COMMUNAL LIVESTOCK HUSBANDRY PRACTICES AND THEIR IMPACT ON MARKET PARTICIPATION: a case study from Zambezi region in Namibia

Abstract

This paper examines the factors determining adoption of improved livestock management practices by communal livestock farmers in Zambezi region, of Namibia. Data was collected from 86 communal livestock farmers who are participating in a Farmer Support Project (FSP) funded by GIZ. Descriptive statistics and multi-logistic regression model were used to analyze the data. Of the respondents 48% had secondary education, with 35% having herd sizes ranging between 11 to 30 cattle composed of cows (34%), heifers (22%) and oxen (26%). Multi-logistic regression model analysis showed that the probability of adopting better livestock management technologies increased with education, financial assistance, farmer advice in animal health, and total number of cattle owned by a farmer. The conclusion that was made is that in order to increase adoption of improved technologies, efforts should be made to enhance access of farmers to education, financial assistance, and training in animal management practices.

Keywords: adoption, livestock management practices, multi-logistic regression model, socio-economic factors, weaners, communal areas, productivity