Household participation in the distribution of poultry and ruminants: a focus on pastoralists in Oyo area of south-western Nigeria

Abstract

Transhumance, which is one of the traditional patterns of livestock husbandry, has been affected in recent years by a number of factors, giving rise to a system of sedentarization by the pastoralists in the sub-humid and humid zones of Nigeria. In view of this fact, a study was conducted to elicit the production intensification and marketing outline of livestock and poultry by the pastoralists in the southwest zone of Nigeria, by administering a well structured questionnaire to farmers in the zone. The result of the study indicated that livestock and poultry sales were common phenomenon and that of poultry was highest in all the seasons. Comparatively, the sale of cows was higher than that of bulls. The study also showed the order of the reasons for disposing an animal from the herd as financial obligation > low productivity > recumbent > old age. The decision making was always within the household; husband took the final decision in the sale of ruminants; 88% of the decisions on the sale of poultry was made by the wives. It was observed that the sale of ruminants and poultry was gender disparate, as men (husband and adult male) were the principal sellers of ruminants and 68% of the sale of poultry selling was done by women (wives). Due to the existence of a central market in the rural area, the rural market was where the highest percentage of the ruminants and poultry was sold. Ruminants were mostly transported to the market place on foot while poultry was by truck. The traders were the principal buyers of both ruminants and poultry. It is concluded that the distribution pattern of livestock and poultry among the pastoralists is gender specific.

Keywords: Household decision making, Livestock and poultry marketing, Pastoralists