AN EVALUATION OF THE PROFITABILITY OF POULTRY AND PIG INVESTMENT PROJECTS IN MERU TOWN

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the profitability of poultry and pig investment projects in Meru TownMethodology: This study adopted a descriptive survey design. The study targeted a population of all the farmers located at Meru town.  According to the Meru town statistics, there are 210 farmers in Meru town. Simple random sampling was used to select a sample of 20% from the population. Therefore, 42 farmers i.e. 20% of 210 were picked at random. The researcher used a questionnaire which was administered to the selected sample population respondents on a drop and pick basis. The data collected was analyzed by use of descriptive statistics. In particular, frequency tables, averages and percentages were used. The data analysis actually involved simple tabulation and presentation of report generated form spreadsheets i.e. excel. The data was then presented using tables, graphs and charts.Results: The study concluded that the success rate of poultry and pig farming projects was low as evidenced by a maturation rate of 51 to 60 percent of the stock. The rest of the stock either died or didn’t lay eggs. In addition, the study concluded that despite the low success rate; poultry and pig farming were described as profitable compared to other investments. However, several challenges related to cost of production, infrastructural factors as well as market oriented factors posed a serious challenge to poultry and pig farming. These factors ranged from high cost of feeds to poor selling prices and shrinking markets as well as competition from subsidized imports.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy:  The study recommended that the bottlenecks associated with the poultry and pig projects be eliminated through a committed effort from the government to subsidize the cost of inputs, establishment of marketing associations and the elimination of middlemen in the sale of produce, improvement in extension services, and the provision of good infrastructure. While the challenges outlined in the study relate primarily to infrastructural and institutional bottlenecks, it might be interesting to study the role of entrepreneurial/management skills and general education on the success or otherwise of poultry and pig farming.