Role of Households in Rabbit Production in Enugu-North Agricultural Zone of Enugu State

Abstract

This study assessed households’ involvement in rabbit production in Enugu-North Agricultural Zone of Enugu State. It determined rabbit management and breeding practices of respondents, roles of households in rabbit production and constraints associated with rabbit production in the area. Multistage sampling technique was used to select eighty respondents. Data were collected through the use of structured interview schedule and analyzed using percentages, mean scores and standard deviations. Majority (62.55%) provide feed for their rabbits twice a day. Majority (86.2%) use paddocks and wooden hutches to construct rabbit house/cages. Adult female and youth/children play less roles in rabbit production. Most perceived constraints were: inadequate/lack of fund (M=3.97), lack of access to foundation stock (M= 3.97) and poor knowledge of rabbit production (M= 3.92). It was recommended that households involved in rabbit production in the area should be encouraged to increase production through training and increased awareness on prevalence of disease and vaccination of rabbits. Similarly, they should be provided with access to foundation stock and other inputs by government and agricultural organizations like Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Development Programme in the area.