Effects of Socio-Economic Characteristics on the Profitability of Poultry Production among Poultry Farmers in Kaduna State

Abstract

The study examined the effects of socio-economic characteristics on the profitability of poultry farmers in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Data were collected using questionnaire from 160 poultry farmers. One LGA each was randomly selected from the four agricultural zones in Kaduna State; Birnin-Gwari Zone, Maigana Zone, Lere Zone and Samaru-Kataf zone. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multiple regression and gross margin models. Results revealed that the majority (71.3%) of the respondents were male, 58.7% were married, 47.5% were within the age of 31-40 years and 98% of the respondents were educated with different educational qualifications. The multiple regression result with R2of 0.658 indicated that 65.8% of the factors affecting profitability were accounted for by the independent variables. Farming experience and access to credit were found to be positive and statistically significant at 1% level of significance while household size had inverse relationship in poultry production profitability in the study area. The constraints faced by the farmers include high cost of feeds and vaccination, disease incidence, high mortality rate, lack of credit and low marketing. Recommendations made include provision of market for products, regulation of prices of inputs and provision of adequate extension services to the farmers in the study area.

Keywords: Effects, poultry, production