A study to investigate the constraints to intensive exotic poultry production in selected farms of Wakiso District
Abstract
A study was conducted to know the various constraints of exotic poultry production and ways and means were suggested to minimize these constraints.
Poultry production is a major economic activity done by many farmers in this country due to high demand of eggs and meat. The study was carried out between the months of February to July in the selected farms of Wakiso district.
Structured questionnaires, participatory observation and discussions with respondents were used to collect data on poultry inventory, nutrition, housing and house hygiene, health, marketing and record keeping.
The major production systems were the deep litter system at 80%, battery cage at 19% and slatted floors at 1%and the major exotic breeds kept were layers (60%), broilers (30%) and kuroilers (10%).
The constraints included diseases, inadequate feeds for poultry, poor delivery of veterinary services, inadequate capital to expand their enterprises, poor poultry housing among others.
Some of the proposed solutions were; improving on the market research and value addition (45%), Farmer’s training programs (24.2%),mixing feeds by farmers themselves to avoid fake quality feeds on market(16.7%), among others.
There is need to strengthen the co-operative system in poultry marketing for the benefit of non-contract farmers to increase their bargaining power on the farm input and outputs.