Analysis of Economic Losses in Piggery Farming due to African Swine Fever outbreaks: A case study on Bululu Sub County, Kalaki District

Abstract

Piggery farming is one of the most productive enterprise which ensure constant inflow of income for the farmers and revenue for the country. It also employs thousands of youths in the country. However, piggery farming is considered to be the riskiest enterprise because of its the susceptibility to African swine fever which is an enemy of swine. This study investigated economic implications of African swine fever (ASF) outbreak among piggery farmers in Bululu sub county, Kalaki district. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative methods for data collection. Random sampling was used to select 80 piggery farmers who participated in this study. A survey method was used to collect data and a structured questionnaire was used. Quantitative data was analyzed using STATA 13. The study revealed that majority of farmers involved in piggery farming were male, and they were keeping majorly local breeds by use of semi-intensive management system although some few were using intensive system. Study also showed that majority of pig farmers were about existence of ASF. Results also showed that each farmer before the outbreak of African swine fever was keeping on average a total of 16.8 pigs. This total average includes sows, boars, gilts and piglets. However, during the study, it was found that each farmer lost on average a total of 10.3 pigs to ASF. This implies that, individual farmer lost on average sum of USh1,922,628. This was because during study, an average price of the sow was USh386,875, boar was USh449,375, gilts were sold at USh163,500, while piglets were each sold for USh71,313. Hence in summary, the study revealed that, piggery farmers in Bululu sub county, Kalaki district were predominantly male, who were within the active age group and married, without formal education, kept local breeds of pigs under semi-intensive system. They were highly knowledgeable about ASF, but did not know real cause and control measures. They also suffered high losses of pigs and expected revenue from their sale due to outbreak of ASF. Hence, the study recommended the need to promote adoption of improved breeds, sensitization of piggery farmers on the cause of ASF, educate piggery farmers on control measures of ASF, especially bio-security measures and establish proper early warning system to inform piggery farmers of the out break