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.