SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION OF INDIGENOUS CHICKENS TO ‎HOUSEHOLDS IN BORGU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF NIGER STATE, ‎NIGERIA

Umunna, Mathias Ofonedu; Ibrahim, Azeez Olalekan; Oyeleye, David Olayinka; Sodiya, Oluwasegun Mobolaji; Adedeji, Emmanuel Olushola; Olalekan, Olawale Jubril; Omotayo, Olabode Lawrence; Olakayode, Samuel Sunkanmi

doi:10.21608/ejap.2021.94397.1023

SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION OF INDIGENOUS CHICKENS TO ‎HOUSEHOLDS IN BORGU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF NIGER STATE, ‎NIGERIA

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Federal College of Wildlife Management, New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria

² Federal college of Wildlife Management, New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria.

³ Federal College of Wildlife Management, New Bussa, Niger Sate, Nigeria

⁴ Federal College of Forestry, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

⁵ Forest Based Rural Resources Centre, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ikija-Ijebu, Ogun State, Nigeria.

⁶ Federal College of Wildlife Management, New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria.

10.21608/ejap.2021.94397.1023

Abstract

SUMMARY
The study assessed the contribution of indigenous chickens to households in Borgu Local Government Area of ‎Niger State, Nigeria. Data were collected with the aid of interview schedule from 80 randomly selected ‎indigenous poultry farmers while descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. Findings ‎showed that the average number of local fowls reared was 22.3. Contributions of indigenous poultry farming ‎to households include slaughtering during festivals (‎‎=2.60), household consumption as meat and egg (‎‎= ‎‎2.32), money to buy more birds (‎‎=2.23) and provision of income for buying food items (‎‎=2.10) which ‎were ranked first, second, third and fourth respectively. Constraints to indigenous poultry farming include ‎disease outbreak (‎‎=2.24), harsh weather (‎‎=2.20), theft and stealing (‎‎=2.20) and high cost of feed (‎=‎‎2.16). Farm income (r = 0.339, P = 0.011), household size (r = -0.241, p = 0.046) and constraints (‎χ‎^‏2‏‎= 58.659, ‎p = 0.000) were significantly related to the specific contribution of indigenous poultry in households. ‎Indigenous rural poultry farming contributes to the households’‎‏ ‏livelihoods hence there should be increased ‎sensitization on the benefits of raising indigenous poultry as well as giving people training on proper ‎husbandry practices‎.

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