DOI: 10.36347/sjebm.2017.v04i08.015

Pages: 570-576

The socio-economic features of broiler farmers were studied, the factors influencing productivity were analyzed and constraints to broiler industry were identified in the study area. The data was collected during the months of October to December 2016 from a total of 130 broiler farmers by direct interviewing using pre-tested questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were applied to analyse the data collected for the study. Findings indicated that most of the respondents were aged between 31-45 years and have secondary level of education along with long years of experience in broiler production. The result also showed a male dominance (86.92%) and only 32.31% of the farmers had broiler farming as their main business. Regression estimates indicated that age (β = 0.427), level of education (β = 0.716), experience (β = 0.992), main occupation (β = 0.367), farm size (β = 1.158) and access to extension services (β = -0.212) significantly affect the broiler productivity, while gender, marital status, family size and source of capital were not. Major production constraints identified, in order of severity, were outbreak of disease (ranked 1st), high feed price (ranked 2nd), price instability of chicks and live broiler (ranked 3rd), and extreme weather (ranked 4th). Other constraints reported by the farmers included management problems, low quality feed, poor access to extension service, lack of government support, lack of sufficient capital and lack of technical knowledge.