Abstract:
The study was conducted in Arapai Sub County, Soroti District to assess the contribution of indigenous chicken to household income among the rural farmers, 100 respondents were randomly selected from 20 villages in four parishes. Data was collected through face to face interviews of the respondents using an open and closed questionnaire. The data collected was analyzed using SPPS version 16 and presented using tables, pie charts and graphs. The results of the study revealed that the main source of income for the respondents was from sale of the poultry products (67%). The farmers were keeping mainly the indigenous chicken (89%) with average flock size 17 chickens per household Poultry contribute a quarter 10 the total annual income of the majority of the respondents (78%.). The majority of the farmers 30% market their products to the local traders and in town. The main challenge faced in marketing the chicken is death of birds and lack of organized markets (22%). The study revealed that 34% of the respondents faced a challenge of diseases and predators. From the results of the study, it can be concluded that the majority of the respondents obtained their income from sale of poultry products, kept chicken for sale and home consumption and that poultry contribute a quarter of the total annual income. It is also concluded that most of the respondents faced a challenge of death at birds in the way and lack of organized market, lack of proper means of transport and low premium costs. It can therefore be recommended that both farmers and extension staffs should be trained on focusing on disease control improved housing, feeding and market entrepreneurship in order to increase productivity and profitability of chicken through joint input purchase and collective marketing of chicken.
