Abstract |
Cross-sectional data were collected from a total of 180 randomly selected households in Mukono, Wakiso and Kayunga districts of Central Uganda, to establish the determinants of utilisation of Artificial Insemination (AI) technology among Ugandan dairy farmers. The dairy farmers were categorized into AI-users and non-users (using natural service). The data included characteristics, of the household and household head, farm and farm management and attributes of the AI service itself. Data were summarised to generate means, frequencies and percentages and a chi-square test was applied to test for differences observed between means. Data were also subjected to analysis using the Tobit Model to establish the relationship between variables that significantly influenced the utilisation of AI technology/service by dairy farmers. The percentage of farmers using AI technology was found to be average 36.1. Age of the farmer, years of awareness of the AI technology, total farm milk production and sales, extension visits per year, and quality of AI services provided to the farmers were positively associated with adoption and use of AI technology. Besides farm level cost of AI services, farming experience, herd size, breed of animals were negatively associated with adoption and use of AI technology. Intensifying extension in form of farm visits, improvement in the quality and, reduction in the cost of AI services and increased availability of skilled AI technicians, were identified as avenues to enhance adoption and use of Artificial Insemination. |