The Influence of Socio-Economic Characteristics on Commercialization of Smallholder Dairy Value Chain Development in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya
Moses Ageya Kembe,
Charles Ochola Omondi
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 1, May 2016
Pages:
1-10
Received:
19 March 2016
Accepted:
28 March 2016
Published:
14 April 2016
DOI:
10.11648/j.urp.20160101.12
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Abstract: Livelihoods of many rural households in developing economies majorly depend on smallholder farming activities. Smallholder dairy farming is the single largest component of agriculture in Kenya. Uasin Gishu County is the leading milk producer in Kenya with subsistence, semi-commercialized and commercialized farmers constituting 70%, 20% and 10% respectively. Smallholder dairy farming in Kenya grows at 4.1% per annum compared to 1.2% for agriculture as a whole. Commercializing smallholder dairy value chain is important in providing pathway out of poverty and for sustainable rural development. Commercialization of smallholder dairy value chain development is variable and is not yet high enough to enable producers benefit from increased income and stimulate rural development. This may be influenced by Socio-economic characteristics of the smallholder producers. The objective of this paper is to examine the influence of socio-economic characteristics on commercialization of smallholder dairy value chain development. Social survey research design was used to obtain both secondary and primary data. A sample size of 384 smallholder dairy producers was studied out of a population of 50,457 respondents. Data analysis procedures used includes: mean, standard deviation, Pearson correlation coefficient, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and multiple regressions. The study results show that socio-economic characteristics of smallholder dairy producers have significant influence on commercialization of smallholder dairy value chain development.
Abstract: Livelihoods of many rural households in developing economies majorly depend on smallholder farming activities. Smallholder dairy farming is the single largest component of agriculture in Kenya. Uasin Gishu County is the leading milk producer in Kenya with subsistence, semi-commercialized and commercialized farmers constituting 70%, 20% and 10% resp...
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Invasion of Wetlands in Kumasi by Informal Economic Activities and Consequences for Urban Management
Richard Oduro Asamoah,
Isaac Decard I - Nelson,
Kwadwo Twumasi - Ampofo,
Bettie Solomon - Ayeh,
Kofi Offei - Nyako,
John Solomon Ankrah
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 1, May 2016
Pages:
11-16
Received:
19 April 2016
Accepted:
3 May 2016
Published:
13 May 2016
DOI:
10.11648/j.urp.20160101.13
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Abstract: Wetlands were considered as waste lands for breeding mosquitoes, home for all kinds of shanty settlements with no basic housing facilities. This study seeks to identify the effects of informal activities along wetland areas in Kumasi metropolitan specifically Sepe-Buokrom- Dichemso areas. The study was in a form of case study covering Sepe-Buokrom and Dichemso areas in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Systematic sampling technique was employed to select the various informal activities within the area. The study revealed that the main informal economic activities within the communities were washing bays, mechanical workshops, petty trading, carpentry works, and etc. Majority of businesses operating along the selected areas had permit for their works. Flooding, poor environmental conditions and poor management of waste disposal were the effects of the activities along wetland areas. Malaria and typhoid were the most prevailing diseases within the study areas. Low cost of land and access to customers were some of the reasons people were operating their businesses along wetland areas. The study concludes that, wetlands in Kumasi are undergoing negative transformation and hence losing their social, economic and environmental values due to unsustainable activities including improper waste disposal and unplanned settlement.
Abstract: Wetlands were considered as waste lands for breeding mosquitoes, home for all kinds of shanty settlements with no basic housing facilities. This study seeks to identify the effects of informal activities along wetland areas in Kumasi metropolitan specifically Sepe-Buokrom- Dichemso areas. The study was in a form of case study covering Sepe-Buokrom ...
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Assessment of Metropolitan Environment Sustainability with Use of Ecological Footprint Index (Case Study: Tehran Metropolis)
Mohammad Javad Amiri,
Shahrzad Bouzari,
Sepideh Karimi
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 1, May 2016
Pages:
17-22
Received:
22 April 2016
Accepted:
4 May 2016
Published:
1 June 2016
DOI:
10.11648/j.urp.20160101.14
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Abstract: Sustainable development is an environmental reaction to traditional development patterns emphasis on coordinating development in the economic, social and environmental dimensions simultaneously. It specially takes two fundamental principles of natural resources preservation and observance of people’s rights in future satisfaction of the natural resources into consideration. Both qualitative and quantitative indicators for measuring sustainable development for many communities have been provided that one of the most efficient of them is ecological footprint index. This index is an introduction to environmental planning which is one of the crucial pillars to reach the maintainable environmental growth. Ecological footprint is applied to measure the progress of societies in to the sustainability. So far, the value of the ecological footprint in different levels global, national and regional have been estimated. The article outlines the “Evaluation on the Sustainability of Metropolitan Environment by Ecological Footprint Index”. Due to the growth of environmental problems, rapid development of urban area without planning, population grow of the city, changing in consumption patterns and unstable ecosystem, this study mainly focuses on Tehran metropolis. By considering the scale of the present study, six elements have been considered to estimate ecological footprint. These factors include: electricity, Warming natural gas, water, transportation, garbage and food. The rate of the land consumption for the population’s requirements of Tehran metropolis during 2006 and 2011 has been estimated by use of ecological footprint index. The results have shown that during these five years, the population of Tehran metropolis has raised five percent. Meanwhile, the amount of the ecological footprint index has also increased 22%. The trend illustrates that ecological footprint is not influenced by only the impact of population but also the amount of the wealth, consumption pattern, technology used along with unstable urban development are the main reasons of increasing Tehran metropolis ecological footprint.
Abstract: Sustainable development is an environmental reaction to traditional development patterns emphasis on coordinating development in the economic, social and environmental dimensions simultaneously. It specially takes two fundamental principles of natural resources preservation and observance of people’s rights in future satisfaction of the natural res...
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