Assessing Factors Inhibiting Commercialization of Poultry Farming in Soroti District Case Study: Gweri Sub-County

Abstract

The major purpose of the study was to assess factors inhibiting commercialization of poultry farming in Soroti district, case Study of Gweri Sub-county. The specific objectives was to establish the various poultry farming practices, assessfactors inhibiting commercialization of poultry farming and to suggest measures undertaken to promote commercialization of poultry farming in Gweri Sub-county.

This would bridge the knowledge gap that underpins the potential of poultry farming for income generation and employment creation.Despite farmer’s efforts to improve their production, they continue to have low production, low income resulting into low living standards.

The study targeted study population 380 people comprising of 60 households of average6 people. The study sample sizewas 68 people comprising of 60 farmers and 8 extension staff from Soroti district local government.

The study employed descriptive research design and data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Disease prevalence such as new castle, coccidiosis, gumboro, fowl pox and typhoid with mortality of 57% was found to be the major hindrance in addition toinadequate and inappropriate shelter, high incidence of pests and parasites, inadequate feeds, inadequate farmer knowledge and skills, inadequate capital for expansion,and 21.7% poor farmer contact with extension workers.

The major breeds established were Indigenous chicken constituting 89.9%, turkeys 6.3% and ducks 3.7% with average stock holdings of 26, 10, and 7 birds respectively.

As much as inhibiting factors were overwhelming, according to the findings, this study shows that some poultry farmers made deliberate efforts to purchase processed supplementary feeds, constructing special shelters specifically for poultry and treating poultry stocks. However poultry farming was found to be mainly purposed for food and income generation to meet bare basic household needs.

To address the above findings the research recommends the local and national authorities and all other sector players to support the recruitment of extension workers to deliver extension services to poultry farming communities in the area of study and the nearby areas

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