Constraints and Adoption of Practices in poultry production in the Northern Agricultural Zone of Delta State, Nigeria

Subject Areas : Agricultural Extension

Ajieh Chuks ¹ , C. O Oyibojoba ²

1 - Department of Agricultural Economics & Extension, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Asaba, Nigeria
2 - Department of Agricultural Economics & Extension, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Asaba, Nigeria

Received: 2017-07-13 Accepted : 2018-04-27 Published : 2018-03-01

Keywords: adoption, Constraints, poultry production, farm supervisors, agricultural zone,

Abstract :

This study examined constraints and adoption in poultry production in the Northern Agricultural Zone of Delta State, Nigeria. A sample size of 80 respondents comprising of supervisors of selected farms was used for the study. Data were collected in March 2017 through the use of a structured and validated questionnaire. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, mean score, standard deviation and percentage were used to summarize data. Results of the study reveal that major constraints to poultry production include: high cost of veterinary services (M = 2.32), high cost of poultry feeds (M = 2.30), lack of credit facilities (M =2.30) and high cost of poultry equipment (M = 2.18). There was high adoption of the following poultry production practices: adequate preparation of the poultry house before arrival of chicks (90%), restriction of sudden entry into the poultry house (93.8%), provision of adequate ventilation (87.5%), provision of clean water without restriction (86.3%) and regular cleaning of drinkers and feeders (83.8%). Strategies identified in this study for enhancing poultry production include: qualified personnel should be used to manage poultry farms (M = 3.19), provision of credit facilities (M = 2.95), subsidy on poultry feeds and equipment (M = 2.91), and the removal of duty on importation of raw materials for poultry feeds formulation (M = 2.69). Furthermore, a significant difference in the mean scores of constraints to poultry production and adoption of poultry production practices implies that constraints affect the adoption of practices in poultry production.

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