Identifying Positive Deviant Farms Using Pareto-Optimality Ranking Technique to Assess Productivity and Livelihood Benefits in Smallholder Dairy Farming under Contrasting Stressful Environments in Tanzania

Dismas Said Shija, Okeyo A. Mwai, Perminus Karubiu Migwi, Daniel M. Komwihangilo and Bockline Omedo Bebe ()
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Dismas Said Shija: Department of Animal Sciences, Egerton University, Nakuru P.O. Box 536-20115, Kenya
Okeyo A. Mwai: International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi P.O. Box 30709-00100, Kenya
Perminus Karubiu Migwi: Department of Animal Sciences, Egerton University, Nakuru P.O. Box 536-20115, Kenya
Daniel M. Komwihangilo: Tanzania Livestock Research Institute, Dodoma P.O. Box 834, Tanzania
Bockline Omedo Bebe: Department of Animal Sciences, Egerton University, Nakuru P.O. Box 536-20115, Kenya

World, 2022, vol. 3, issue 3, 1-18

Abstract: In smallholder dairy-cattle farming, identifying positive deviants that attain outstanding performance can inform targeted improvements in typical, comparable farms under similar environmental stresses. Mostly, positive deviants are identified subjectively, introducing bias and limiting generalisation. The aim of the study was to objectively identify positive deviant farms using the Pareto-optimality ranking technique in a sample of smallholder dairy farms under contrasting stressful environments in Tanzania to test the hypothesis that positive deviant farms that simultaneously outperform typical farms in multiple performance indicators also outperform in yield gap, productivity and livelihood benefits. The selection criteria set five performance indicators: energy balance ≥ 0.35 Mcal NEL/d, disease-incidence density ≤ 12.75 per 100 animal-years at risk, daily milk yield ≥ 6.32 L/cow/day, age at first calving ≤ 1153.28 days and calving interval ≤ 633.68 days. Findings proved the hypothesis. A few farms (27: 3.4%) emerged as positive deviants, outperforming typical farms in yield gap, productivity and livelihood benefits. The estimated yield gap in typical farms was 76.88% under low-stress environments and 48.04% under high-stress environments. On average, total cash income, gross margins and total benefits in dairy farming were higher in positive deviants than in typical farms in both low- and high-stress environments. These results show that the Pareto-optimality ranking technique applied in a large population objectively identified a few positive deviant farms that attained higher productivity and livelihood benefits in both low- and high-stress environments. However, positive deviants invested more in inputs. With positive deviant farms objectively identified, it is possible to characterise management practices that they deploy differently from typical farms and learn lessons to inform the uptake of best practices and extension messages to be directed to improving dairy management.

Keywords: smallholder dairy; positive deviants; Pareto-optimality ranking; multiple indicators; yield gap; productivity; livelihood benefits (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G15 G17 G18 L21 L22 L25 L26 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 R51 R52 R58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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