Vol 4(8) Nov’14

International Journal of Livestock Research ISSN 2277-1964 ONLINE

Factors Affecting Adoption of Poultry Innovations by Rural Farmers in

Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria
Kughur, P.G., Daudu, S. and Onu, O.E.
Agricultural Extension and Communication Department, University of Agriculture, Makurdi,
Benue State, Nigeria

*Corresponding author: gyandenkugh@gmail.com

Rec. Date: Sep 23, 2014 03:25
Accept Date: Nov 16, 2014 06:08
Published Online: November 22, 2014
DOI 10.5455/ijlr.20141116060805

Abstract
The study examined factors influencing adoption of poultry innovation in Otupko Local government Area
of Benue State. The specific objectives were to analyze the selected socio-economic characteristics of the
respondents, identify the types of innovations adopted, examine sources of information, analyze logit
adoption of innovations and ascertain types of problems encountered. Primary and secondary data were
collected; primary data were gathered with the use of structured questionnaire administered to randomly
select 120 respondents while secondary data were obtained through published and unpublished
materials. Descriptive statistics and logit regression model were used for data analysis. The results
revealed that 38.3% of the respondents were between 41-50 years, 55.8% had family size of 6-10 persons,
50.8% were secondary school leavers, and 67.5% had 1-5 years of poultry farming experience. The
findings further revealed that 48.3% of the farmers adopted vaccination/diseases control and 45.8%
obtained information on poultry innovations practices through the media. There is a significant
relationship between level of adoption and number of birds kept by farmers and 89. 1 % of the
respondents encountered diseases problem. It is recommended that public and private sectors should
provide vaccines and veterinary services at the village level for the farmers.

Key words: Factors, adoption, poultry, innovations, rural farmers

Introduction
Poultry farming is a practice of raising chickens, ducks and geese as a subcategory of animal husbandry
for the purpose of farming meat or eggs for food. Poultry production is a means of ensuring a sustainable
income. It could be established with minimum cost and as a side project; the birds can tend for
themselves on free range without much care (Umeh and Odo, 2002). The conviction to go into poultry
business depends on the farmer’s awareness that poultry production is a promising source of additional
income, protein intake and quick returns from investment. (Kekocha, 1994). Over the last decade,
demand has caused the poultry sector to expand turning it into possibly the fastest growing of all livestock
sectors. Poultry plays an important role in the livelihood of many farmers as it contributes to the basis of
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food, income/job security as well as other social and cultural functions (Iheanocho, 2005).
In Nigeria, poultry account for about 30.28 percent of the total livestock production. In terms of
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production in Africa, Nigeria ranks highest with a total of 190 million chickens. The statistics show that

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 Vol 4(8) Nov’14
International Journal of Livestock Research ISSN 2277-1964 ONLINE

this provide protein requirement for her population of over 148 million people. It is estimated that the
daily protein requirement of an adult Nigerian and most developing countries varies between 65-75 grams
per caput per day. Poultry with its socio-economic importance plays a major role in providing the highly
needed animal protein for increasing population. This is because the poultry meat and eggs can be
produced more economically and quickly when compared with other sources or means through which the
animal needs of the society can easily be met.

Report of FAO (1994) stated that egg production was among the quickest ways to increase supplies of
animal protein to consumers and it is especially appropriate to the activities of the small-scale poultry
producers. Eggs accounts for 62.92 and family 68.35 percent of the total revenue in small-scale and large
scale layer production, respectively. Commercial poultry are usually vaccinated against a variety of
diseases. Diseases may result in loss of income from the owner; other losses may include loss of valuable
breeding stock or the inability to participate at bird shows. In many situations, vaccination may only be
employed as means of minimizing the economic impact of diseases rather than total prevention in 100
percent of the flock (Iheanocho, 2005).

According to Fasoyiro and Taiwo (2012), with a fast growing population Nigeria is threatened with the
problem of food insecurity and poverty which can be addressed with a more developed animal production
sector in addition to other sectors. The average Nigerian still consumes far less animal protein than his
counterpart in the developed world because the animal production industry is still in its infancy stage due
to hydra-headed problems and the per capita income is low leading to a consumption of less than 9 grams
of animal protein per capita per day as compared to over 50 grams per capita per day in North America
and Europe (Grigg 1995; Boland et al., 2013). According to Sachan et al., (2012), some countries even in
the developing world are already considering novel approaches to meat production such as in-vitro meat
production but in Nigeria animal production is facing numerous challenges with certain factors militating
against successful animal production.

Adeniji and Balogun (2002) stated that a poultry diet consists of common grains and protein sources with
mineral and vitamin supplements. Animal and vegetable fats may be added to increase energy and reduce
dustiness. Corn grain, sorghum, wheat, oats and barley are often used for poultry feeding however, one of
the major problems of poultry production in the developing countries today apart from the incidence of
diseases is the high cost of feeds arising from high cost of feed ingredients particularly the protein
concentrates. This problem has tended to reduce the rate of expansion of poultry industry and has added
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to low level of animal protein nutrition of their citizens.

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Innovation worth of adoption must be compatible with existing farming systems, norms, values and belief
of farmers. The information on improved technology or change programmes through agencies has in
recent times generated conflict and conflictions in rural and traditional societies. This is usually more
dramatic when the idea for sale is at variance with the prevailing norms, belief system and values of the
rural communities. Adequate market incentives would encourage farmers to be market oriented and
adopt more improved technology than at present. The provision of adequate infrastructure such as market
facilities and services, good transportation system among others will lead to effective development in
poultry production technologies and its adoption by farmers at all levels.

Material and Methods

Otukpo is one of the 23 Local government Areas (LGAs) in Benue State. It is located between longitude
7°45' to 18°15' East and latitude 7.0° to 7°45' North. It has an estimated population of about 236.587
(NPC, 2006). It experiences dry and rainy seasons, the inhabitants of Otukpo take farming as major
occupation. Farmers cultivate crops like yams, maize, cassava, millet, sorghum, rice and groundnut.
Among the farmers, a few diversify their farming activities by keeping livestock alongside crop
production activities. Examples of animals kept on small-scale are goat, sheep, cattle, pigs and poultry.
Random sampling technique was adopted for data collection. Six (6) council wards were selected out of
10 council wards based on intensity of poultry farming in the study area. In each of the council wards
selected, structured questionnaire were administered to 20 respondents making a total of 120 respondents.
Data collected were analyzed through descriptive statistics and Logit regression.
Logit regression model:
P
Z= Ln = Ln Y = bo + b1x1 + b2x2 +b3x3 +b4 x4

l-P

Measurement of variables
Z = Probability of adoption of innovations (1= access and 0 = no access)
bs = Coefficient of explanatory variables which increases or decreases z
1 = Sex: male and female (dummy: male =1, female =0)
2 = marital status: married, single, divorce
3 = Family size: numbers: 1, 2, 3, etc.
4 = Age: years
5 = Educational qualification: number of years spent in school; no formal education = 0, primary,
secondary, diploma, NCE, HND/B. Sc and above.
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Results and Discussion

Table 1 - Selected Socio-economic Characteristics of the Respondents
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Variables Frequency Percentage

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 Vol 4(8) Nov’14
International Journal of Livestock Research ISSN 2277-1964 ONLINE

Age (Years)
41-50 46 38.3
51 and above 27 22.5
21-30 25 20.8
31-40 22 18.3
Total 120 100
Family Size
6-10 67 55.8
1-5 38 31.8
11-15 11 9.2
16 and above 4 3.3
Total 120 100
Educational Background
Secondary education 61 50.8
ND/OND/NCE 35 29.2
Primary education 13 10.8
HND/B.Sc & above 13 5.0
Non-formal 6 4.2
Total 120 100
Years of Farming Experience
1-5 81 67.5
6-10 35 29.2
11-15 2 1.7
16-20 1 0.8
21 & above 1 0.8
Total 120 100

Age
Results in Table 1 indicated that 38.3% of the respondents were between the ages of 41-50 years. This age
group is very active especially in carrying out farm activities. In term of adoption strategies great efforts
should be made by planners to include these groups of people, because they form majority of the farmers
generally. The age groups of between 41-50 years are people who are matured and have tried a lot of
social and other aspects of life who upon getting a lucrative business like poultry farming would like to
concentrate on it to get a reasonable income to take care of their family and other things. However for
people below this age group so many of them might still be doing trial and error both for business and
other social aspects of life.
Family Size
Results in Table 1 showed that majority 55.8% of the respondents have household size of 6-10 people.
Most farmers marry very early in life; the reason is not farfetched, to get more people that will always be
available to assist on farm whenever there is need. The quest to get more capable hands to help on farm
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has led to many farmers marrying more than two wives and the more the number of wives they marry the
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higher the probability of getting more children who would be of help on the farm. Apart from marrying

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many wives and having many children the number of people within a household is also a veritable tool as
a means of measuring wealth in the rural communities in Nigeria. To the rural settlers, people within
their household are valuable assets as they are always on hand to assist on the farm.
Educational background
Half, 50.8% of the respondents involved in poultry farming were secondary school leavers. A lot of
secondary school leavers have engaged themselves in many profitable businesses: this is because, white-
collar jobs are not in existence, where they are available the number of people looking for it is more than
the available vacancies on one hand. On the other hand many of them did not pass examination to further
their studies to tertiary level furthermore, the few that might have passed up to the required number of
credits to earn admission in tertiary institutions do not have people that would sponsor them to higher
institutions therefore, engaged themselves in businesses that will not require huge capital for initial
establishment. There are a lot of secondary school leavers looking for source of livelihood, most of them
does not have the skills required to go into other means of livelihood which require long duration for
training and huge sum of money to pay for such trainings, therefore poultry rearing business is most
suited for them since it does not require much capital.
Years of farming experience
Results in 1 Table depicted that majority 67.5% of the farmers had 1-5 years of experience in rearing
poultry. This implies that a high proportion of the respondents have reared poultry for a short period of
time. Apart from trained professionals, experience is required for one to be successful in poultry
production to avoid losses that might lead to the stoppage of the entire business. However, relatively
small capital and short duration training is required before one could start rearing birds on small scale.
The few years of experience of the farmers make them to rear very few birds to be able to manage them
effectively and sometimes on occasional basis; birds reared to be sold during festivals.
Table 2 - Distribution of Respondents by Improved Poultry Practices Adopted
Improved practice adopted Frequency Percentage
Vaccination 58 48.3
Good hygiene 34 28.3
Debeaking 8 6.7
Records keeping 7 5.8
Others 7 5.8
Use of different exotic breeds 6 5.0
Total 120 100

Results in Table 2 revealed that vaccination/disease control 48.3%. Vaccination/disease control is an

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important aspect of poultry production because without proper vaccination a flock could be wiped away
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by diseases within the shortest possible time. It is in cognizance of this that poultry farmers vaccinate

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their chickens periodically to prevent diseases outbreak. However, vaccination may only be employed as
a means of minimizing the economic impact of diseases. This confirms Joe (2007) who reported that
poultry is usually vaccinated against a variety of diseases, these diseases may result to lose of income
from the owner, and other losses may include valuable breeding stock or the inability to participate at bird
show. Vaccination is therefore an important aspect in poultry rearing.
Table 3 - Distribution of Respondents According to Source of Information on Improved Poultry
Practices
Source of information Frequency Percentage
The media 55 45.8
Contact with extension agents 43 35.8
Extension agent on the media 12 10.0
Other farmers 6 5.0
Friends/relatives 4 3.3
Total 120 100

Results in Table 3 indicated that 45.8% of the respondents got information concerning poultry rearing
through the media. The media has played an important role in dissemination of information in different
areas of agriculture over the years. The media is one of the important sources of information for rural
farmers particularly the radio which is relatively cheap, portable and above all can transmit in the local
languages for better understanding of the farmers. Agricultural information dissemination by the media is
very important in helping farmers to improve on poultry production in particular and agricultural
production in general. This contradicts the findings of Daudu et al., (2009) who stated that agricultural
information from Benue State was obtained from agricultural extension agents. It is important that
agricultural information should be package and delivered to the farmers through the radio.
Table 4 - Estimate of Logit Regression Analysis Showing Factors Influencing Level of Adoption of
Improved Poultry Practices
Variable B S.E Wald d.f Sig. Exp.
Age 0.044 0.233 0.035 1 0.851 1.045
Family 0.087 0.073 0.073 1 0.787 1.091
Educational qualification - 0028 0.064 1.190 1 0.663 0.972
Years of farmers - 0440 0.426 1.066 1 0.302 0.644
Number of birds 0.585* 4.839 4.839 1 0.028 1.795
Level of awareness - 2.890 1.481 3.806 1 0.051 0.056
* Significant 5%

Results in Table 4 showed that there is a significant relationship between the level of adoption and
number of birds kept by a farmer. Farmers that adopted a single innovation were regarded as low
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adopters and it is designated zero (0), while those that adopted two or more innovations were regarded as
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high adopters and it is designated one (1). There is a significant relationship between level of adoption

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 Vol 4(8) Nov’14
International Journal of Livestock Research ISSN 2277-1964 ONLINE

and number of birds. That is, there is a probability of farmers to increase their adoption level as the
number of birds increase.
Table 5 - Distribution of Respondents Based on Problems Affecting Poultry Farmers
Problem Frequency Percentage
High prevalence of disease 107 89.1
Inadequate capital 70 58.1
High cost feeds 65 54.1
Bad quality of water 59 49.1
Poor marketing 49 40.8
Theft/inadequate space 40 33.3
Poor means of transportation 10 8.3
*Multiple responses *

Results in Table 5 revealed that there was high prevalence of diseases 89.1%. Diseases associated with
poultry production is very common, as a result farmers have to vaccinate their chickens periodically to
prevent most of these diseases. Majority of the devastating diseases of chickens are better prevented by
vaccination at specific age using appropriate vaccines such as Newcastle Diseases Vaccines (NDV) for
Newcastle diseases, fowl pox vaccine for fowl pox, anti-coccidian drugs for gumboro disease among
others. Adopting a policy to use vaccines in poultry production is an important decision for poultry
production activities, considerable data exist on the efficiency of vaccines in domestic chicken. The
finding is similar to those of Bamaiyi (2013) and MacRae et al., (2005) who asserted that livestock
diseases remain a veritable threat to the animal production industry. Animal products are constantly under
threat by diseases that affect livestock and hence reduce productivity. The poultry industry is even more
devastated by viral infections such as Newcastle disease and Infectious bursal disease (Gumboru) in spite
of several attempts at vaccinations. Endemic animal diseases such as Helminthosis, Contagious Bovine
Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), brucellosis, mastitis, peste des petits ruminants (PPR), and many others have
devastating impacts upon the animal industry leading to losses in hundreds of millions of dollars every
year in developing economies like Nigeria (Bamaiyi (2012) and Bhat et al. (2012). The finding also
confirms (Iheanocho, 2005) who reported that vaccination is employed as means of minimizing the
economic impact of diseases.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Small-scale poultry production is practiced by secondary school leavers in the study area and that
vaccination/disease control was the practice mostly adopted by poultry farmers to control the high
prevalence of diseases, information on improved poultry practices were obtained from the media (radio),
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there is a significant relationship between level of adoption and number of birds kept and there is also
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high prevalence of diseases associated with poultry rearing. It is recommended that both the private and

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International Journal of Livestock Research ISSN 2277-1964 ONLINE

public sectors should make vaccines and veterinary services available to the rural farmers and the media
particularly radio should produce and broadcast more programmes on poultry rearing.

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