Benefits and associated challenges of working donkey in small holder farming systems in Kenya

Abstract

In Kenya donkeys are a source of income for farming households through subsistence and commercial transport. A study was conducted to determine the benefits of keeping donkeys and the associated production challenges in small holder farming system in Kirinyaga County, Kenya. Data were collected through thirteen focus group discussions (FGDs) using participatory epidemiological methods (PE). The FGDs comprised 8-12 participants who were donkey owners across thirteen donkey rearing locations in Kirinyaga County. Qualitative data was collected using listing, pairwise ranking and probing included reasons for keeping donkeys, challenges faced by working donkeys and the diseases encountered among these donkeys. Data analysis was performed using a non-parametric method, Kruskal-Wallis, to test whether median ranks were significantly different. Quantitative data was collected using the structured questions in the focus group discussion guide and the descriptive summaries were presented as tables and themes. Narrative summaries were provided for the responses. The benefits included the incomes obtained from the use of donkeys in transportation (Z= 5.80) and manure production (Z= 3.47). Identified challenges included; theft for slaughter (Z = 5.99), diseases (Z = 3.03), road accidents (Z =2.83) and malicious cutting (Z = 2.32). Some of the diseases identified were tetanus (Z = 5.35), hoof problems (Z = 4.55), worms (Z = 3.10) and mange (Z = 2.24). The results are important for policy makers and extension agents with regard to health and welfare of donkeys kept under similar settings.