Strategies for coping with feed scarcity among pig farmers in Arapai sub county, Soroti district.

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was carried out in Arapai Sub County, Soroti district in four Parishes to identify strategies used by small scale pig farmers in response to feed scarcity. Scarcity of feeds has posed a lot of challenges that necessitated the identification and exploitation of available safety nets. The data was collected from 120 respondents using structured questionnaires, analyzed using SPSS version 20 and presented in tables, pie charts and graphs. The study revealed that the main source of feeds during wet season was weeds (53%) followed by food leftovers (24%) while the main feed sources during dry season were cassava (46%) maize bran (27%) and the main feed sources during post-harvest was crop residues (58%) and food leftovers (20%) of the120 respondents interviewed, 84% often experienced feed scarcity during-dry season and 2%. experienced feed shortages during wet seasons while 14%experienced feed shortages during post-harvest season. To cope up with feed scarcity 33% of the respondents used crop residues followed by 21% harvesting natural forages while 19% changed feed resources based on availability and cost, others reduced herd size (18%). and only 9% purchased feeds in bulk to overcome shortages the findings also showed that, 72% of the farmers gave supplements. to their pigs while 28% never supplemented diets of their pigs. Various unconventional feed resources included food leftovers banana peelings, sweet potato vines, cassava peelings, jackfruit wastes; bone meal and brewers spent grain or waste In conclusion, the study established that the majority of farmers used crop residues, reduced herd size used leftovers and harvested natural forages as strategies to cope up with feed scarcity. The study recommended that, Local government should liaise with government laboratories and nutritionists to 'analyse these reed resources for nutritive values and formulate rations for pig production and streamline extension service system to extend services to these farmers.