International Research and Academic scholar society

IRASS Journal of Economics and Business Management

Issue-9(September), Volume-3 2026

1. Technology Adoption, Governance Practices and Operational Performance...
6

Naomi Mukuhi Githinji*
Department of Accounting, Finance & Economics, KCA University, Nairobi, Kenya
1-9
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22706300

Technology adoption and effective governance are increasingly important organizational capabilities for improving the efficiency, accountability, and competitiveness of agricultural cooperatives. This study examined the relationship between technology adoption, governance practices, and the operational performance of dairy cooperative societies in Kiambu County, Kenya. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was employed, covering 19 dairy cooperative societies. Data were collected from managers, board members, and cooperative-member employees using structured questionnaires. Of the 78 targeted respondents, 69 participated, yielding an 88.46% response rate. Primary survey data were complemented by 2024 milk production and milk payment data obtained from the Kenya Dairy Board. Technology adoption was assessed using indicators including electronic payment systems, dairy management technologies, computerized records, and real-time data capture, while governance practices were assessed through board structure, accountability, leader-member communication, and member participation. Operational performance was measured using an Operational Performance Index based on annual milk production volume and average milk payment per litre. Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted, with aggregation strategies included as a control variable. The regression model was statistically significant and explained 85.7% of the variation in log operational performance (R² = 0.857, F(3,15) = 29.874, p < 0.001). Technology adoption was positively and significantly associated with operational performance (β = 1.070, p = 0.042), while governance practices also showed a positive and significant association (β = 0.381, p = 0.012). Consistent with these results, technology adoption had a strong positive correlation with operational performance (r = 0.797, p < 0.01), while governance practices had a substantial positive correlation (r = 0.649, p < 0.01). Qualitative findings indicated that digital payments, computerized records, digital communication, and real-time data systems improved record accuracy, payment efficiency, information flow, monitoring, coordination, and decision-making. Effective governance strengthened accountability, board oversight, transparency, member participation, and resource management. The findings further suggest that technology and governance operate as complementary organizational capabilities, with their benefits depending on adequate infrastructure, financial resources, staff competencies, effective leadership, and member engagement. The study recommends an integrated approach combining affordable and scalable digital technologies with governance capacity building, transparent communication, effective board oversight, member participation, and continuous staff development. Given the cross-sectional design and the small number of cooperative-level observations, the findings demonstrate significant associations rather than definitive causal effects.

2. Livestock Marketing Interventions and Livelihoods in Pastoral and Smal...
49

Ekiru Francis Anno*
Selinus University of Sciences and Literature (SUSL), Ragusa, Italy
10-19
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22733090

Livestock production is central to rural livelihoods across sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in pastoral, agro-pastoral, and smallholder farming systems. Livestock provide food, income, savings, employment, insurance against shocks, manure, and social and cultural capital. However, the contribution of livestock to household welfare depends not only on production but also on households' ability to participate effectively in livestock markets and obtain fair returns. This review synthesizes literature published primarily between 2020 and 2026, with particular attention to pastoral and smallholder systems in East Africa. The evidence shows that market infrastructure, market information, producer organizations, transport, veterinary services, financial services, value addition, and improved market governance can reduce transaction costs, increase market participation, improve producer returns, and strengthen livelihood resilience. Evidence from Ethiopia demonstrates that improved livestock market sheds can increase smallholder earnings, while evidence from northern Kenya indicates that improvements in physical and communication infrastructure have strengthened market integration. However, market participation does not automatically improve welfare. Drought, climate variability, conflict, distress sales, weak bargaining power, gender inequalities, inadequate services, and restrictions on pastoral mobility can limit or reverse livelihood gains. Informal information networks, brokers, customary institutions, and cross-border trade also remain important in connecting remote producers to markets. The review therefore argues that livestock marketing should move beyond increasing sales volumes toward resilient, inclusive, equitable, and sustainable livestock value chains. Effective interventions should integrate market infrastructure, information, producer organization, animal health, finance, value addition, climate-risk management, gender empowerment, rangeland governance, conflict management, and predictable trade regulation.

3. From Pastoral Production to Competitive Markets: Navigating Livestock...
249

Ekiru Francis Anno*
Selinus University of Sciences and Literature (SUSL), Ragusa, Italy
20-30
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22733267

Livestock trade is central to the economies and livelihoods of pastoral communities in Africa's drylands, yet its potential is constrained by climate variability, weak market infrastructure, limited market information, inadequate capital, insecurity, animal diseases, informal marketing arrangements, and unequal competitive conditions among traders. This study examined the challenges affecting livestock trade in Turkana County, Kenya, with particular attention to livestock production and market access, trader competitive rivalry, and the implications of market organization for pastoral livelihoods. A case-study approach was applied to three livestock markets in Lodwar, Lokichoggio, and Kainuk towns. Primary data were obtained from 168 livestock-market respondents, with 56 respondents selected from each market. The analysis employed descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Kruskal–Wallis tests, post-hoc comparisons, one-way analysis of variance, reliability analysis, and simple linear regression. Results indicate substantial constraints in livestock production and market access. The overall market-access scale had a mean score of 2.51 (SD = 0.61), with significant differences among Lodwar (M = 2.89), Kainuk (M = 2.54), and Lokichoggio (M = 2.09) markets. Competitive rivalry was also significant, with an overall mean of 3.12 (SD = 0.63); Lodwar recorded the highest mean (M = 3.62), compared with Lokichoggio (M = 2.79) and Kainuk (M = 2.94). Regression analysis showed that trader competitive rivalry significantly predicted livestock production and market access, β = 0.381, t = 5.536, p < .001, explaining 15.1% of the adjusted variation. The findings demonstrate that competition in dryland livestock markets is not inherently beneficial when it operates through unequal access to capital, information, market networks, and institutional influence. Sustainable livestock trade therefore requires a systems-oriented approach combining market infrastructure, animal health, climate resilience, transparent pricing, market information, trader finance, producer organization, inclusive governance, and strengthened cross-border trade arrangements. The study concludes that transforming dryland livestock trade from predominantly informal and subsistence-oriented transactions into transparent, market-oriented and resilient value chains is essential for improving pastoral incomes, food security and regional economic development.





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