Abstract:
The research was carried out in Mukura Sub-county to assess the constraints to indigenous chicken production and marketing. A total of 100 households rearing local chickens in study area were randomly selected. The results obtained found out that 56% of the respondents were females while the rest males; they were mostly in the age bracket of 21-35 years (56%). Free range (scavenging) system (88%) dominated the production systems; majority of farmers (45%) housed local chicken in separately (in chicken houses) Most farmers left chicken to scavenge for feeds· (96%). Disease outbreak (93%) and lack of access to extension services (35%) were Common in the area. The farmers sold chicken mostly to middlemen (53%).Chicken diseases (44%) were the major factor limiting the production of local chicken followed by predation 24%) parasites (12%), theft (10%) shortage of feeds (6%) and unreliable information (4%). The marketing of chicken MlS also affected by low chicken market prices (47%) high cost of transport (28%), low market access (13%), seasonal demand (7%) and lastly low finance and market awareness (5%). The productivity of scavenging, birds in Mukura Sub County can be enhanced by providing and implementing appropriate vaccination program to reduce disease outbreak, improving on the housing strategies to reduce on chicken predation, providing technical support to farmers on supplementary feeding, and watering: The study suggests that formation of cooperative societies in the area could be a solution to the challenges in the marketing of local chicken.
