Assessment of Chicken Production, Marketing and Socio-Economic Situations in Some Selected Districts of Gambella Region, Ethiopia

The present study was conducted in Gambella region of south west Ethiopia to assess the chicken production, marketing and socio-economic characteristics in some selected districts of the region. The study was conducted in selected districts that were based on accessibility criteria’s and potentially to represent the region. The study involved under field conditions by using semi structured questionnaires for focus group discussions and key informant interviews. From four districts atotal of 384 farmers those have indigenous chickens (96 from each districts) were considered. Mean age of the respondents in the districts were 39.72±0.14 at Lare, 43.29±0.12 at Abobo, 42.18±0.15 at Gambella Ketema Zuria and 43.31±0.13 at Itang special districts. The family size per interviewed households (HHs), respectively was 6.21 ± 0.17, 5.43 ± 0.16, 5.11 ± 0.15 and 5.65 ± 0.12. Almost all the respondents indicated that broodiness characteristics were common in their flock in which 79(82.29%) in Itang especial district, 77(80.21%) in Abobo, 75(78.13%) in Lare and 88(91.67%) in Gambella Ketema zuria districts. The mode of transportation of chickens to the market were mainly by hand usually embracing (69.01%) and hanging the chicken downward (30.99 %). According to the interviewed farmers, a comparative higher price of Birr 180.50±0.75 and Birr 130.50±2.50 per birds were given for matured cocks and matured female hens, respectively during holidays and Birr 150.25±0.50 and Birr 120.55±0.73 per birds were given for matured cocks and matured female hens at regular time, respectively. Disease and shortage of feed were the first two major constraints in village chicken production, ranked first, and second, respectively in the study area. Generally, there are factors, including chicken management practices on housing, feed and feeding and market channel need improvement, which makes differences in chickens’ production and marketing situation in the study area, which suggests that there is an opportunity to improve poultry production and marketing in the future. Keywords: Marketing, Poultry production, Selected districts, Socio economics. DOI: 10.7176/JMCR/70-04 Publication date: August 31 st 2020