Analysis of the factors affecting the performance of poultry farming projects in Uganda: A case study of Ruhaama Sub County, Ntungamo District

Abstract

This study was conducted in Ruhaama Sub-county Ntungamo district. The purpose of the study was to analyze the factors influencing poultry production among poultry farming projects in Uganda. The objectives of the study were to establish how cost of inputs, education and market of project products influence poultry performance. The research methodology for the study was descriptive cross-sectional research design. The sample size was 70 poultry farmers and simple random sampling technique was applied in selecting the farmers who were included in the sample. The researcher used questionnaires to collect data and data was analyzed using MS Excel and SPSS. The study revealed that most (48.6%) of the respondents indicated that cost of inputs fluctuates. The study results indicated that a unit increase in cost of inputs reduces poultry performance by 0.045 units. Since the P-Value (0.000) was less than the critical value (0.05), it can be implied that cost of inputs influences poultry productivity and production. The study findings revealed that majority (65.7%) of the respondents were certificate and diploma holders. The study findings further indicated that a 1% increase in education level of poultry farmers improves poultry performance by 0.104%. The study further established that education level has a virtual impact on poultry performance since the P-Value (0.000) was less than the critical value (0.05). The study findings revealed that the highest percentage (42.9%) and 30.0% of the respondents showed that there is a ready market and promising market for poultry products. It is also revealed that a unit increase in market of poultry products improves poultry performance by 0.156 units. The study further established that market of the poultry products positively influences poultry farming since P-Value (0.000) was less than the critical value (0.05). The study concluded that fluctuations in cost of inputs could be the reason for poor performance of poultry farming and cost of inputs negatively influences the poultry performance. The study further concluded that education level and marketing positively affects poultry farming. The study recommended that the government should create markets both locally and internationally for poultry products and should put in place measures to control fluctuating cost of poultry inputs. The study recommended that young and educated citizens should be encouraged to venture into poultry farming. The study suggested that similar studies should be conducted in the neighboring counties, on other factors and other districts with in Uganda.