Production systems and constraints to productivity of local chicken in Arapai sub-county, Soroti district.

Abstract

Local chickens were found in villages of Arapai sub County but clear information was lacking regarding their socio-economic importance and production management in the area. Therefore in this study a total of 100 households rearing local chickens in Arapai Sub County were surveyed to get base line information on characteristics of households involved in local chicken production and utilization, feeding, breeding practices, extension service delivery, disease and health management, and housing management of village chicken in addition to factors affecting local chicken production; The results revealed that free range or scavenging system is the, dominant production system (85%) with only 13% housing local chicken's separately 94% of the fanners offer supplements to their chickens. However, most of them 76% offer feed on bare ground and Such feeds offered included local feeds 64% and a combination of local & commercial feeds (31%) while 5%, said they use commercial feeds. The study revealed that 98% of local chicken owners in the study area experience chicken diseases in their locality. Only 47% of the farmers’ access extension services; the rest do not have with 88% having contact once in a month and oniy.6% having contact twice a month. They said the main extension service provider is NAADS (5.00%) followed by students on outreach program from Busitema University (31%) and lastly NGOs (19.0%). The farmers also reported that disease (35%)d parasites (27%) as the major constraints-to local chicken production. The productivity of scavenging birds in Arapai Sub County can be enhanced by relatively simple changes in management techniques that promote improvement in productivity and reduce mortality. Simple house construction especially designed for chicks using locally available materials can easily save. Disease prevention mechanisms and designing appropriate vaccination programs will undoubtedly reduce mortality. Little technical support on farmers’ experience or knowledge of supplementary feeding and watering could improve productivity of chickens too.