Influence of Common Interest Group Membership on Productivity of Smallholder Indigenous Chicken Enterprise in Kisumu County

Onyango R, Obara J.J, Bebe B.O

Abstract: Common Interest Groups are farmers with common interest who come together in order to increase farm productivity. Broad objective of this research was to determine influence of Common interest group membership on productivity of indigenous chicken among smallholder farmers. This Study was carried out in Kisumu County Kenya, through cross-sectional survey research design, on 135 randomly selected respondentsfrom indigenouschicken group members. Open and closed ended questionnaires were used to collect primary data. Data analysisused bothdescriptive and inferential statistics. Chi-square testtested correlation between membership and management practices while t-test tested significant difference on Indigenous chicken products, by-products and level ofincome. Study findings indicated positive influence of groupmembership on indigenous chicken productivitycharacterized by better management practices, resulting to increased number ofproducts and income from the enterprise. In conclusion, being a member of indigenous chicken Common Interest Group influences positively on managementpractices, improvedvolumes of products and by-products resulting to improved profit margins from the enterprise.

Keywords: Common interest groups, Indigenous chicken, Productivity, Influence