ISSN 2375-0863
African Journal of Poultry Farming ISSN 2375-0863 Vol. 5 (5), pp. 204-210, May, 2017. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
A study of the perceptions of rural farmers towards the feasibility of interventions in their village poultry system
*Atomsa Zenawi1, Kebret Teshome2, Simon Shigute2 and Desalegn Oqubay3
1Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Adama University, Adama, Ethiopia.
2Animal & Range Science, College of Agricultural Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia.
3Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Arsi University, Ethiopia.
Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]
Accepted 03 July, 2015
Abstract
This study identified perception of poultry farmers’ on impact of interventions in village poultry production and quantified the impacts of interventions on flock and economic performance using modelling. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on perceptions of poultry keeping and performances from 240 randomly selected households in two districts of Ethiopia. Crop was the major source of income, and poultry generated supplementary income. Farmers perceived that demand and price of poultry products increased. Majority of the farmers believed that additional inputs would not lead to higher income. A dynamic simulation showed that the base situation made a positive financial contribution. Vaccinations had the largest positive impact on flock performances and using improved indigenous chicken had the smallest. Application of interventions had the largest effect on flock performances in the base situation but did not lead to profitability. The sensitivity analysis showed that feed cost had the largest impact on the profitability followed by housing, vaccination and breed. Farmers’ perceptions affected their decisions regarding implementation of interventions. Simulated interventions increased productivity but only in a few cases the increased incomes outweighed the additional costs. Interventions need to be tailored towards the local situation to ensure improved productivity and improved income.
Key words: Poultry, smallholders, flock performance, profitability.