Assessment Potential and Constraints of Poultry Production in Marako Woreda, Gurage Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the production and constraints of poultry production in Marako Woreda, Gurage Zone, Southern Ethiopia. The data were collected using questionnaire survey using 100 households. The information obtained from the questionnaire survey revealed that the production system is often characterized by low input-low output productivity characterized as free ranging system (70%). The mean flock size recorded in this study was 4.82 chickens, the value of which is higher than the national average, 4.1. About 80% of the respondents used to supplement poultry with cereal grain like wheat and corn during early in the morning and late in the afternoon. The flock composition consists of laying hens (27%) which reflect their retention for production purposes. The majority about 60% of the farmers keep poultry for sale which is to enhance the income of the farmers. Seventy percent of the respondents’ access support of extension services. Seventy percent of the respondents argued that the average number egg-laying period per hen per year is about 4 where as 50% of the respondents responded that average number of eggs laid per hen per egg- laying period is 12. The major constraints of poultry production in the study area arecapital, disease, market, predator and feed shortage in the order of rank. Moreover, the outbreak of Newcastle disease is the major problem affects poultry production and usually happens at the beginning of rainy season. Therefore, to improve production and attain increased productivity, there has to be a means to have credit access for the farmers which strengthens farmers’ economic situations. In addition to this it is better to create awareness of farmers to about the management of poultry to enhance productivity.

Keywords: Free ranging system, flock size, egg-laying period, Newcastle disease