An Analysis of Factors Influencing the Performance of Poultry Farming Projects in Uganda: A Case Study of Rugando Sub-County, Mbarara District

Abstract

This study was conducted in Rugando Sub county, Mbarara district. The purpose of the study was factors which influencing poultry production among poultry farming projects in Uganda.The objective of the study was to establish how economic, environmental and social factors influence performance of poultry farms.The research methodology for the study was descriptive cross-sectional research design. The sample size was 71 poultry farmers and stratified sampling technique was applied in selecting the farmers who were included in the sample.The researcher used questionnaires to collect data and data was analysed SPSS version 20. The study revealed that most (63.4%) of the respondents disagreed and strongly disagreed that inputs are cheap in their area of operation, it implies that cost of inputs negatively influences poultry productivity and production.The study findings also revealed that most of the respondents (84.51%) keep birds using deep litre system and that management system of poultry positively influences poultry production. The majority of the respondents (55%) were not in agreement with the statement that their poultry houses are large enough to accommodate all the birds which indicate that poultry houses might be limiting them from large scale production. The study further established that size of a poultry house positively influences poultry production.The study findings revealed that majority (63.38%) of the respondents were primary and certificate holders this established that education level has a vital impact on poultry performance.The study findings show that majority of the respondents (42.25%) always vaccinate their birds followed by 39.44% who sometimes vaccinate and the least (18.31%) rarely vaccinate. Using a regression model, study findings indicated that economic, environmental and social factors are significant determinants of poultry performance (sig. < 0.05).The study concluded that fluctuations in cost of inputs could be the reason for poor performance of poultry farming and cost of inputs negatively influences the poultry performance. The study recommended that the government should create markets both locally and internally for poultry products and should put in place measures to control fluctuating cost of poultry inputs. The study suggested that similar studies should be conducted in the neighbouring counties, on other factors and other districts with in Uganda.