Determinants of the Use of Motorcycle Means of Transport Among Smallholder Dairy Farmers in Sotik Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

The poor state of roads and the financial inability of many smallholder dairy farmers to afford better means of transport have led more smallholder dairy farmers to rely mainly on motorcycles as a relatively accessible means of transport to access the market. This study, therefore, sought to establish the determinants of the use of motorcycle means of transport among smallholder dairy farmers in Sotik Sub-County, Kenya. The Rational Choice Theory guided this study. A sample size of 384 smallholder dairy farmers was selected to participate in the study. Data was collected using a questionnaire. The primary data were analysed using STATA. The Standard Poisson model results revealed that age, education, and marital status of the household head, herd size, road condition, milk volume, distance to milk output market, and household size were significant contributors to the use of motorcycle services. These findings suggest that the county government could facilitate the development of innovative organisational structures such as cooperatives and other forms of producer groups. The improvement of road infrastructure, milk collection and milk processing units of suitable capacity could help to increase market access and enhance output milk market participation.

Keywords:Motorcycle services, motorcycle means of transport, smallholder dairy farmers, and Standard Poisson model

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/12-14-03

Publication date:July 31^st 2022