Abstract:
The study was under taken to assess the constraints to small ruminant production and marketing in Mukura Sub County, Ngora district. Data wascollected from 100 farmers by use of pretested questionnaires. The results revealed that major type of small ruminants kept were goats (58%) under tethering management system. Lack of technologies (39%) lack or extension support (23%), feed scarcity (13%), diseases and parasites (7%), water shortage (8%), labor shortage (4%) and theft and stray dogs (6%) were the constraints to small ruminant production in Mukura Sub county. The following improvement strategies were identified increased extension agent contact (41%), provision of improved breeds (31%), campaigns by government (19%). Other measures included educating and training of farmers (5%) and provision of soft loans (4%). The problems of marketing were high market dues (37%) and long distances from the markets (33%), low prices (23%) while only 7% lacked market information in which the farmers suggested that government intervention (34%), reduction of market dues (33%) and provision of market information (31%) would help address them yet the bigger markers like the Middle East for small ruminants have not been captured, Uganda as a whole is not utilizing the existing world market, for Livestock. The study concludes that farmers kept goats under tethering system and faced problems of lack of technologies, lack of extension agent support, water and feed scarcity and diseases and parasites. Improvement strategies like training of farmers, increasing extension agent contact and provision of technologies were identified. Distant markets, low prices and high market dues were problems in the marketing of small ruminants. Provision of market information and lowering of market dues and government intervention would help solve marketing constraints. Governments should Organize Small ruminant farmers in commodity organization and train them in business development and management skill.
