Effect of farmers’ access to credit on broiler chicken production in Kiboga district, Uganda

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of farmer’s access to credit on broiler chicken production in Kiboga District. The objectives of the study were; to characterize broiler chicken farmers based on social-economic factors, to establish the effect of farmer’s access to credit on broiler chicken production. Primary data were collected through a cross-sectional survey from a sample of (60) randomly selected broiler farmers using structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a log linear regression. Results showed that majority of the broiler farmers were males (55%), the average age of broiler farmers was 40.6 years. Broiler chicken farmers spent an average of the 11.77 years in school with an average household size of 5.4 people. 36.7% of the broiler farmers received extension services. The study further reveals that 71.7% of the famers were married, 23.3% of the famers had accounts in a financial institution, 30% of the total broiler farmers had access to credit services and 60% of the loans got were used for broiler production. Access to credit and access to extension services significantly affected the level of broiler production. The study recommends farmers to join farmers’ organizations from which they can borrow with a low interest rate and also easily have access to extension services.