Status of egg producing farms in the newly created cities in Uganda: a case study in Masaka

Abstract

The study was conducted to access the status of egg producing farms in the newly created cities in Uganda; a case study in Masaka. Households were surveyed using structured questionnaires and the respondents were sampled by snow balling procedure. Data on age, gender, level of education, experience of egg type chicken farmers in Masaka city was collected to assess the social demographic characteristics of egg type chicken farmers in Masaka city. Data on sources of feeds, month(s) in which access to feeds is easy, rearing system, month in which sourcing of day-old chicks is easy, scale of production of farmers of egg type farmers in Masaka city. Data on marketing of eggs was collected to assess the factors influencing marketing of eggs. A total of 60 respondents were interviewed of which 48.3% where male and 51.7% were females. The study revealed majority of these were adults aged between 36 and 60, this is because rearing of egg type chicken farming requires a capital base which is affordable to people in the age group, as by this age some individuals have saved to invest for their retirement. Majority of the farmers rear egg type chicken for employment and to supplement income at household level. Majority of the farmers attained poultry rearing knowledge through attending training organized by suppliers of inputs. Majority 61.7% of the farmers reared egg type chicken birds in medium scale production. Most respondents (38%) were challenged by the high input costs in particular feeds.