Analysis of Management Systems and Commercialization of Poultry Broiler Production in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

Aims: The broad objective of this study is analysis of management systems and commercialization of poultry broiler production. The specific objectives are to determine the socio-economic factors influencing choice of system, compare the level of commercialization at each system and determine the effect of credit on the level of commercialization.

Study Design: Cross-sectional design.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Makurdi Area of Benue State, Nigeria, between September and December 2017.

Methodology: The population of the study constitutes all poultry farmers in Makurdi Area of Benue State, Nigeria, operating both at commercial and small scale. A total of 110 poultry farmers were sampled and randomly selected using the snowball sampling technique. The snowball sampling technique was adopted because the population was not definite. Data for the study were collected using a well-structured questionnaire administered to the respondents. Logistic regression, multiple regression and Farm commercialization index were used for analysis.

Results: The result of the analysis revealed that farmer’s age, household size and marital status significantly influenced choice of broiler management system operated by the farmers. Again, the estimates of the FCI shows that the level of commercialization was very high among the intensive farmers and low among non-intensive farmers. Also, the result of the multiple regression indicated a strong and positive relationship existing between credit and level of commercialization.

Conclusion: The extent to which poultry farmers are oriented towards producing for the market was found to be influenced by the choice of system. The low level of commercialization among the extensive farmers was probably for the reasons for which the bird were reared. Nevertheless, there is need for farmers to increase their commitment at whichever system of management adopted, as well as the essence of credit on productivity upsurge. Also, Government should improve farmer’s access to credit as this would help them increase their capital base as well as farm size (number of birds) because this variable was significant in influencing poultry level of commercialization.