TY - JOUR AU - Wanjala, Simon P. O. AU - Njehia, Bernard K. AU - Murithi, Festus M. PY - 2015/02/15 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Important Variables Influencing Milk Yields on Smallholder Farms in Western Kenya JF - Asian Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences JA - AJAFS VL - 3 IS - 1 SE - Articles DO - UR - https://www.ajouronline.com/index.php/AJAFS/article/view/1777 SP - AB - <p>This study sought to assess the most important variables influencing milk yields on smallholder farms in Western Kenya, a region with persistent milk insufficiency. Four approaches were assessed on ranking of important variables: Use of farmer focus groups, key informant interviews (pair-wise ranking of variables), beta weights and Product measure (multiple linear regression). The findings showed that all the four methods produced different ranking order. Using a combined weighting system, the most important variables influencing milk yields on smallholder farms were found to be fodder; dairy meal, credit, Artificial insemination, improved research technologies, group membership, policy and economic returns. Collectively, they explained 63.9% of the variance in milk yields in the area (F<sub>8</sub>, 291= 65.089, p&lt;0.001).We argue that a combined weighting approach appears to be a sharper ranking method in selecting important variables from many components in a value chain system.</p> ER -