Influence of Group Dynamics on Chicken Farming Practices Among Individual Women in Makueni County, Kenya

Abstract

Chicken farming is an important socio-economic activity in developing countries due to its immense contribution to the improvement of rural poor households’ livelihoods and food security. Despite this, chicken farmers experience several challenges including diseases, high cost of inputs and market constraints. Government and non-government agencies encourage the formation of collective associations such as groups to address these challenges. Although groups have been known to address challenges that farmers go through, chicken production in Makueni County has not attained full potential despite increasing demand for chicken products. In addition, there is no much literature explaining influence of group dynamics on chicken farming practices among individual women. Therefore, this study aimed at determining influence of group dynamics on chicken farming practices among individual women in Makueni County. The specific focus was on the influence of group cohesion, group structure and communication on chicken farming among individual women. The study was anchored on two theories: Homan's theory of group formation and Social Balance. It employed a cross-sectional survey design. The focus of the study was on individual women practicing chicken farming. They are members of 2,514 farming groups in the sub counties of Makueni, Mbooni, Kibwezi West and Kibwezi East. A two stage sampling technique was used to select 384 women chicken farmers. The first group in the first stage simple random sampling technique was used to select farming groups from the list of groups per Sub County provided by the Government of Makueni County. In the second stage, women chicken farmers were purposively identified based on the number of flock (more than ten), chicken farming experience (more than one year) and frequent engagement in group activities. Structured questionnaires, focus group discussion and key informant interview guides were used to collect data which was analysed qualitatively and quantitatively. Qualitative data was analysed thematically while quantitative data was analysed using descriptive data analysing and presented inform of percentages, means, and standard deviation. Findings revealed that groups structure: leaders organized training and capacity building (85%) that enhanced chicken production. Results further indicated that communication among members of the group enabled women share information on chicken farming: sharing through mobile phone (92.4%) enabled members share information on diseases and control measures (94.8%), right feed management (92.6%), and market (70. 8%).In addition, group cohesion contributed to chicken production through: collective access of vaccines (76.1%), and collective sale of chicken produce. The results confirm that group membership enhances chicken production among individual women. Recommendation is that smallholder women chicken farmers should join groups to benefit on the higher bargaining power on sells and purchases, access to the pool of information on chicken management and trainings on chicken management which accrue from being a member of a registered and recognized farmer groups.