Environmental Determinants of Choice of Sustainability Strategies Adopted by Group Ranches in Samburu County, Kenya
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Date
2017
Authors
Kithumbu, Eustace N.
Huho, Julius M.
Omondi, Humphrey R.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
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Abstract
The group ranch system is one of the best land ownership and livestock production strategies
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153
in the dry lands of the world where the potential for rain-fed agriculture is limited. This has resulted
in numerous studies on the establishment of group ranches, their dissolution and coping strategies but
with less focus on the sustainability of the group ranches. It is against this background that this study
investigated environmental characteristics influencing choice of sustainability strategies adopted by
group ranches in Samburu County, Kenya. The investigation adopted a descriptive survey research
design employing use of Questionnaires, Key Informant Interviews, Focus Group Discussions and
observation as primary data collection methods. The study used content validity and Cronbach’s
alpha methods to measure validity and reliability of the research instruments, respectively. The
target population for the study was the 16,611 registered members in 38 group ranches spread out in the
County. The study sampled twelve group ranches with approximately 5,643 members from which 374
respondents were systematically sampled. Purposive sampling was used to select Key Informants and
the participants in the Focus Group Discussions. The study employed Multi-linear Regression to
analyse environmental characteristics determining choice of sustainability strategies. The Analysis of
Variance (ANOVA) was used to test the hypothesis and p-value of 0.00 was obtained, indicating that
environmental characteristics significantly determined choice of sustainability strategies adopted by
group ranches in the County. Overall, rainfall patterns were the predominating environmental
characteristic with a regression coefficient of 0.317 while diseases had the least influence on
choice of sustainability strategies adopted by group ranches in Samburu County, with a regression
coefficient of 0.029. The study recommended integration of environmental characteristics in
formulating policies for sustainability of group ranches.
Description
Group ranch system in Samburu County, Kenya
Keywords
Environmental determinants, Environmental characteristics, ranching, choice, sustainability strategies, group ranches, Samburu County
Citation
International Journal of Current Business and Social Sciences, 1 (6), 152-166