Insight into the adoption and success of artificial insemination services in smallholder dairy farming systems: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Smallholder dairy farming in developing countries plays a crucial role in poverty alleviation and food security. Therefore, tremendous efforts have been made to increase dairy productivity through rapid genetic improvement of dairy herds through different approaches including the use of artificial insemination (AI) technology. However, there is information gap on its adoption and effectiveness of artificial insemination in resource limited settings. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the factors affecting adoption of AI Technology by small dairy production systems. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 656 smallholders, and 91 AI technicians (AITs) in seventeen administrative districts of eleven regions located in four major geographical zones of Tanzania. Results shows that 89% of the respondents acknowledged AI as an effective breeding method for increased milk yield, prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (82%), bulls were used as an alternative when AI failed (51%). However, irregularity in getting AI services, unreliable liquid nitrogen supply, and unavailability of reliable transport were major obstacles to AI services provision. Furthermore, mobile phone was a major means of communication (93%) between farmers and AIT, and 65% of the AITs use private transport while the rest uses public transport. Since majority of the small scale dairy producers acknowledge the importance of AI, strategic interventions on the identified obstacles and promoting enabling environment for AI service provision is likely to improve and facilitate a much wider adoption and delivery of AI services.