Profitability of Indigenous Chicken: The Case of Producers in Makueni County, Kenya (original) (raw)
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Profitability of Indigenous Chicken:The case of producers from Makueni County
Indigenous Chicken(IC) (Gallus domestica) is increasingly becoming an essential component of diets in urban centers. This increase in demand is accompanied by an increase in production by smallholder farmers. These farmers rely on the indigenous chicken for food security, household income, employment and quick funds in emergencies. The profit associated with the production of indigenous chicken, constitutes part of the contribution of the Agriculture sector to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Kenya. However, in Makueni County there is little information on the amount of profit from production of IC or its relationship with socioeconomic factors. The objectives of this study was to calculate the profit of IC in Makueni and to determine the relationship between socio economic factors and profit from IC.A total of 130 households were sampled using multi stage sampling after which data was collected using a pre tested questionnaire in a house hold survey. These data was then analysed using budgetary analysis and multiple regression in STATA 11. The results showed that the profit from IC production in Makueni was Ksh. 5347/100 birds (1US$= Ksh86.70).Age, education, access to credit, flock size, price and years in farmer group had a significant relationship with the profit. Therefore it is recommended to form marketing groups that will engage in contractual agreements with final buyers of indigenous chicken.
Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International, 2021
Indigenous chicken production is an important sub-sector in Kenya. About 90% of rural communities keep indigenous chicken in small flocks. They provide the much needed high value protein and income for the rural households. Despite its importance; the productivity of the sub-sector greatly varies depending on the management systems deployed by the producers. The management systems are thought to be influenced by demographic; socio-economic and information literacy factors. This study investigated the potential links between these factors and indigenous chicken productivity in two regions in the Western parts of Kenya. The survey study adopted a descriptive approach. Semi-structured interview schedules were used to collect data from a sample of 106 smallholder producers. Purposive and multi-stage sampling techniques were used to select the participants from among producers who had shown interest in the commercialization of indigenous chicken following awareness meetings conducted by ...
Indigenous Chicken Productivity and associated Farm-level attributes in the Western parts of Kenya
Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International, 2021
Indigenous chicken production is an important sub-sector in Kenya. About 90% of rural communities keep the indigenous chicken in small flocks. They provide the needed high-value protein and income for rural households. Despite its importance; the productivity of the sub-sector greatly varies depending on the management systems deployed by the producers. The management systems are thought to be influenced by demographic; socio-economic and information literacy factors. This study investigated the potential links between these factors and indigenous chicken productivity in two regions in the Western parts of Kenya. The survey study adopted a descriptive approach. Semi-structured interview schedules were used to collect data from a sample of 106 smallholder producers. Purposive and multi-stage sampling techniques were used to select the participants from among producers who had shown interest in the commercialization of indigenous chicken following awareness meetings conducted by public extension agents in the two regions. Data were analyzed by use of descriptive statistics and correlation estimates using Kendalls’ tau-b and Goodman-Kruskalls’ Gamma coefficients. Gender; education levels; flock size; information literacy and access to markets had a significant association (P < .05) with some indigenous chicken productivity indicators that were investigated.
2019
Indigenous chicken commercialization is crucial in ensuring increased productivity hence increased food security and income of rural people. Poultry products are an essential component of diets in both rural and urban centers. However, the production has remained subsistence in nature, characterized by low productivity. The commercialization provides major opportunities for increased production and incomes for smallholder farmers and plays a role in poverty reduction. Despite the high demand for indigenous chicken in urban areas because of leanness and good taste, very few farmers consider it as a commercial enterprise. The purpose of this study was to investigate market factors influencing commercialization of indigenous chicken farming by small scale farmers in Kericho County, Kenya. Descriptive research design was used to analyze the factors that influence commercialization of indigenous chicken farming. The target populations were 800 indigenous chicken farmers from 46 groups an...
Management practices and challenges in smallholder indigenous chicken production in Western Kenya
The potential benefit of indigenous chicken (Gallus domesticus) production is still under-exploited in Kenya despite the efforts by different stakeholders to mainstream this production system as a pathway to rural development. The production system is often characterized by low input-low output productivity and low commercialization of the enterprise. This study which dwells on the current management practices and challenges faced by smallholder indigenous chicken farmers was conducted to gain insights into the underlying causes of production constraints. In Western Kenya women (76 %) dominate the indigenous chicken production system. The flock composition consists mainly of chicks, hens and pullets (80 %) which reflects their retention for production purposes. Less than half of the farmers access institutional support services such as extension, training, credit and veterinary services. In addition, indigenous chicken is largely reared in a low input-low output free-range system with only few farmers (24.2 %) adopting management interventions as disseminated by extension service. To improve production and attain increased productivity, policy should focus on repackaging extension messages that considers farmers economic situations and strengthens collective action initiatives. Accessing joint input purchase and collective marketing of chicken products may further assist the farmers to increase profit margins.
Indigenous chicken production in Kenya: I. Current status
World's Poultry Science Journal, 2012
The majority of the Kenyan population resides in the rural areas and is characterised by low income and food insecurity leading to high levels of poverty. Poultry production and in particular indigenous chicken (IC) production play a significant role in the economic and social life of these resource-poor households, contributing to cheap source of animal proteins and cash income. Indigenous chickens are present whenever there are human settlements and their economic strength lies in their low cost of production which is a characteristic of the resource-poor rural households. They are highly adapted to the harsh scavenging conditions, poor nutrition and disease and/or parasite challenges. Their low productivity has hindered their exploitation. This paper highlights the current IC production circumstances with a view to identifying the major challenges which need to be addressed in order to improve the IC productivity and thereby improve the livelihood of the rural households who are ...
The study sought to assess the Constraints that affect the productivity of indigenous chicken in Kikumini/Muvau and Kithungo/Kitundu wards of Makueni County Kenya. The study location is 87% Arid and Semi-arid and very marginal to successful crop production. Poultry production is the most widespread subsistence agricultural activity where about 75-80% of all farm families practice this enterprise. Extensive (scavenging) system of production which subjects chicken to risk of disease outbreaks and high infestation by parasites dominates indigenous chicken production in the county. A total of 158 households (72 in Kikumini/Muvau ward and 86 in Kithungo/Kitundu ward) were randomly sampled for collection of primary data using semi structured questionnaires. Results revealed that indigenous chicken productivity is negatively affected mainly by diseases and parasites, and high cost of feeds, low adoption of biosecurity measures and inadequate extension services. The study recommends that; the county government and private service providers ought to improve on service delivery to the chicken producers in terms of quality and coverage, disseminating seasonal messages when due and targeting the major decision makers in the chicken enterprise at household level.It further recommends financial empowerment to farmers in order to deal with many challenges facing indigenous chicken production in Makueni County.
Indigenous chicken production in Kenya: II. Prospects for research and development
World's Poultry Science Journal, 2012
Poultry production and in particular indigenous chicken (IC) production has been recognised as an avenue to improve livelihoods of the rural households. Previous attempts to improve their productivity have had little success due to, among others, lack of a holistic approach in solving the constraints and dissemination of inappropriate technologies given the production circumstances and market dynamics. Marketing as a constraint is often blamed for the failure of interventions to improve livelihoods, despite lack of saturation for IC products at local and national levels and the increasing demand for the same. This paper highlights the past improvement attempts and suggests strategies to improve IC productivity and thereby improve the livelihood of the rural households which are the custodians of these genetic resources. It is concluded that there is potential for improvement of IC production in Kenya given the available genetic and physical resources. However, a holistic strategy th...
IOSR Journals , 2019
This study aimed at exploring how selected factors of disease control, credit, market infrastructure, and skills development affect the development of the indigenous poultry production value chain in Kathiani Sub-County.The value chain approach embraces the full range of activities which are required to bring a product or service from conception, through the intermediary phases of production, delivery to final consumers, and final disposal after use. Traditionally extension agents have concentrated their efforts on innovation transfer that targeted production aspects of a poultry and ignored other factors of the value chain. Most farmers specialize in production and may be excluded from decision making about issues that affect them outside their farms. There exists a knowledge gap of what potential there is for income generation and employment creation in the indigenous poultry value chain. Despite their hard work,poultry farmers continue to have low incomes resulting into low living standards. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. The target population consisted of 35 farmers, 5 Agrovet attendants, 5 local poultry traders, and 5 Field Extension Officers. Simple random sampling was used to select 35 farmers who participated in the study.Using purposive sampling method 5 Agrovets, 5 poultry traders and5 extension officers. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using frequencies, means and multiple regression at p = 0.05. Results from the study indicated that reconstitution of the Newcastle vaccine and market access had statistically significant effects on the development of the indigenous poultry value chain in Kathiani Sub County. In addition, market facilities for slaughter, cold storage and dedicated sell outlets for table birds were completely lacking in all the major market centers in the study area. Extension agents should embrace the value chain approach and provide information on marketing. Local authorities in consultation with relevant technical departments to invest in market infrastructure at fresh produce markets that will enhance sales of table birds and other poultry products. The researcher made several recommendations which include the farmers should be educated more by extension service providers on how to reconstitute the NCD vaccine. The thermal stable NCD vaccine should be made available in the rural areas where electricity is not available. Likewise, There is need to investigate to what extent Common Interest Groups (CIGs) on commercialization of indigenous poultry are a driver in the development of the indigenous poultry value chain in Kathiani Sub County.
2010
Over 70% of the domesticated birds in Kenya are indigenous chicken (IC) providing meat and table eggs. They are frequently raised through the free range, backyard production system. Small flock sizes are characteristic of this production system and often, sales are mainly at the farmgate. Although IC production possesses enormous potential at livelihood improvement, marketing systems are undefined and variable. The influence of prices on market engagement has frequently been assumed. A study of 68 farmers conducted in Machakos, Kibwezi, Nzaui and Mwala District in 2008 revealed that 70% of all IC sales were conducted at the farmgate while only 19% of the sales were at the local market. This study also investigates the probability of market participation by employing a binary logistic regression model. The results suggests that while farmers complain of poor farm gate prices for indigenous chicken offered by middlemen, low volumes are an important drawback to market participation.