The contribution of local chicken enterprise to agricultural livelihoods in Wakiso district
Abstract
Local Chicken farming is an important enterprise in improving socio-economic conditions and
livelihoods of rural households in Uganda. However there is little information on the status
contribution of local chicken enterprise to the livelihood of households in Wakiso district. This
study generally aimed at assessing the contribution of Local Chicken enterprise to the
agricultural livelihoods in Wakiso district. The study specifically examined the socialeconomical characteristics of local chicken farmers and also assessed the local chicken
production methods and the major marketing channels and outlets of local chicken in Wakiso
district. A structured questionnaire was administered to the local chicken farmers to collect data.
By use of the snow bowling, and purposive, sampling techniques; at least 10 local chicken
farmers were sampled from each of the eight villages within Wakiso district. A total of 80 local
farmers were sampled for this study. Results show that, 62.5% of the sampled local chicken
farmers were female and 52.5% were aged between 35-60 years. The major source of income
among the local chicken farmers was crop farming (48.8 %). The local chicken farmers used
37.6% of their money from chicken enterprise for sustaining their domestic needs. The study
indicates that local chicken production has ability to increase farmers’ income as well as their
welfare and further farmers used their money from the sale of local chicken products for
sustaining their basic needs at home. The study confirmed that production of local chicken
enterprise is mainly by free-range system. The records showed that survival of young chicken
was low(45%) until 16weeks of age . Most death occurred after 3weeks of hatching.
Local chicken enterprise being a woman dominated enterprise especially in rural areas of
Wakiso district indicates that women are increasingly moving toward self- employment and
experiencing poverty reduction because of their active participation in the local chicken
enterprise. This study recommends that there is need to increase the number of flock size through
use of proper production systems among local chicken household and provision of mini
hatcheries at village level that could collect and use local eggs to increase number of chicks that
are hatched.