INDIGENOUS CHICKEN MARKETING CHANNELS AMONG SMALL-SCALE FARMERS IN MAU-NAROK DIVISION OF NAKURU COUNTY, KENYA
Kyule N. Miriam
Njoro Girls’ High School, Kenya
Mwangi J. Gowland
Department of Agricultural, Education and Extension
Nkurumwa O. Agnes
Department of Agricultural, Education and Extension
ABSTRACT
Poultry production in Kenya is an important source of livelihood for small-scale farmers who produce 80% of the national poultry production. Compared to other livestock species, indigenous chicken (IC) rearing remains attractive to poor households because the IC are hardy; adapt well to the rural environment; require less start-up capital and have low maintenance costs. They are a cheap source of animal proteins for financially unstable households. Although majority of small-scale farmers rear indigenous chicken, it has been reported that very few engage in it as a commercial enterprise for household income. The reasons why commercial rearing of indigenous chicken among most small-scale farmers remains low despite their high demand in the market are not well documented. The purpose of this study was therefore to study the difference in household income obtained by small-scale farmers in Mau-Narok Division of Nakuru County from different IC marketing channels. A cross-sectional survey research design was used. The target population consisted of small-scale farmers who reared IC in Mau-Narok Division. Using the coefficient of variation method, a sample size of 120 respondents was randomly selected from a sampling frame of 10,479 households. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in data analysis and all tests were computed at α= 0.05. Study findings indicated that there was a statistically significant difference between the income obtained by small-scale farmers in Mau-Narok Division from selling IC products at the farm and the income obtained from selling IC products off farm. This finding is contrary to the norm, whereby off farm marketing results in higher income. This could be due to the minimal price difference realised when farmers sold their products off farm. There is need for further studies to shed more light in this area.
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