Importance of Indigenous Chickens to Rural African

Communities
extension.msstate.edu/publications/importance-indigenous-chickens-rural-african-communities-1

Humans have raised poultry for thousands of years. Archaeological evidence suggests
that domesticated chickens existed in China at least 8,000 years ago and subsequently
spread to Western Europe and other parts of the world by both land and sea (Alders et
al., 2018). Domestic chickens first appeared in Africa many centuries ago and are now an
established part of African life (Alders, 2004).

Smallholder farmers in many developing countries typically raise indigenous domestic

chickens under a traditional scavenging system (Magothe et al., 2012; Destra et al,
2013). Indigenous chickens are popular in these areas because of their tolerance to
common poultry diseases and to fluctuations in both feed quality and availability, allowing
for little or no input costs (Desta and Wakeyo, 2012).

While efforts have been ongoing for several years to introduce more efficient, exotic and
crossbred types of poultry, indigenous chickens remain predominant throughout many
African villages. This is because local farmers have been unable to afford the high input
requirements (housing/shelter, commercial diets, and strict disease control/vaccination
programs) associated with more genetically efficient breeds (Tabler et al., 2018).

Indigenous Chicken Production

Multiple scholars and policy makers around the world have recognized the importance of
small-scale, scavenging chicken production in the national economies of developing
nations across Africa and its role in enhancing food security and improving the nutritional
status and income of many smallholder farmers (Melesse, 2014). In addition, indigenous
chickens fulfill a wide range of functions, from generating income to strengthening the
fabric of social communities (Alders and Pym, 2009). They also enhance food security in
indirect ways such as improving nutrient use and recycling in the environment,
contributing to mixed farming practices, enabling access to healthcare and education, and
empowering women (Wong et al., 2017).

Currently, global livestock production systems are under scrutiny because of the projected
environmental and food-system impacts of increasing livestock production to meet the
growing demand for animal protein around the world (Delgado, 2003). However, meat
and egg production from indigenous chickens is one of the most environmentally efficient
animal protein production systems available (Melesse, 2014), and chickens are, by far,
the most important poultry species globally (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2014a).

In addition, chickens have socio-cultural and religious significance (Kondombo et al.,

2003; Muchadeyi et al., 2004; Thekisoe et al., 2004) among rural communities in Africa,
and there are few religious taboos associated with consuming chicken meat and eggs.
For example, it has been reported that chickens for many socio-cultural functions or

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sacrifices are chosen for their sex or plumage color (Melesse, 2014). Native chickens are
used in village medicine and in funeral ceremonies in agrarian communities (Kondombo
et al., 2003). Despite their poor performance in terms of meat and egg production, they
are a vital part of a balanced farming system (Padhi, 2016).

The FAO (2014a) characterizes chicken production systems as seen in Table 1.

Table 1. Characteristics of the FAO four family poultry production systems.1

Criteria Small extensive Extensive Semi-intensive Small-scale

scavenging scavenging intensive

Farming system Mixed, poultry & Mixed, livestock Usually poultry Poultry only
crops, often & crops only
landless

Other livestock Rarely Usually Sometimes No

Flock size 1–5 adult birds 5–50 adult birds 50–200 adult >200
birds broilers

>100 layers

Poultry breeds Local Local or cross- Commercial, Commercial

bred cross-bred/ local

Source of new Natural Natural Commercial Commercial

chicks incubation incubation day-old chicks day-old
or natural chicks or
incubation pullets

Feed source Scavenging; Scavenging; Scavenging; Commercial

almost no occasional regular balanced
supplementation supplementation supplementation ration

Poultry housing Seldom; usually Sometimes; Yes; Yes;

made from local usually made conventional conventional
materials or from local materials; materials;
kept in house materials variable quality good-quality
houses

Access to Rarely Sometimes Yes Yes

veterinary
services/supplies

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 Mortality >70% >70% 20–50% <20%

Reliable No No Yes Yes

electricity supply

Cold chain No Rarely Yes Yes

Access to urban Rarely No, or indirect Yes Yes

markets

Products Live birds, meat Live birds, meat, Live birds, meat, Live birds,
eggs eggs meat, eggs

Time devoted to <30 min <1 hr >1 hr >1 hr

management/day

1Adapted from FAO, 2014a.

Constraints to Commercial Expansion

Unfortunately, small-scale poultry production in Africa is also fraught with risks. Major
challenges include high flock mortality due to predation and regular disease outbreaks
(particularly Newcastle disease); poor genetic potential of indigenous breeds; poor quality,
quantity, and availability of feed resources; absence of an organized marketing system;
and lack of a successful vaccination program due in part to an unreliable cold-chain
supply of vaccine. However, vaccination rates remain low today despite the recent
development of a thermotolerant I-2 Newcastle disease vaccine designed to overcome
the need for a cold-chain. For example, in 2018, only 26 percent of Tanzanian households
had recently vaccinated for Newcastle disease (Campbell et al., 2018).

In Africa, about 94 percent of the total chicken population is indigenous poultry, supplying
most of the meat and eggs consumed in rural areas and approximately 20 percent of the
poultry products in urban areas where small commercial production is found. However,
only 3 percent of indigenous poultry growers raise more than 40 birds each (RIU, 2012).
The majority of these households produce 5 to 10 chickens over a period of 12 to 18
months. While the output of village poultry is lower than that of intensively raised birds, it
is obtained with minimum inputs of housing, disease control, management, and
supplemental feeding (Alders et al., 2018), somewhat offsetting the lower production
numbers.

Inadequate Extension support has been cited as a major constraint to commercialization

of the indigenous poultry industry. Extension outreach is critical for delivering new
knowledge about rural poultry production and helping smallholder farmers apply this new
knowledge. Unfortunately, a shortage of qualified Extension workers; weak linkages

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between research, Extension, and smallholder farmers; lack of infrastructure (such as
roads and bridges); lack of facilities (such as meeting places and access to technology);
and inadequate collaboration among various stakeholders hamper outreach efforts.

FAO (2014b) has reported that widespread, isolated rural areas and a lack of resources
and infrastructure can result in limited veterinary and Extension services. Where these
services do exist, they are often focused on crop or ruminant production (Bagnol, 2009).
This limits poultry farmers’ access to critical information, particularly concerning
biosecurity, which is a major concern for small-scale producers (Alders et al., 2014).

Extension’s reach is often hampered by a lack of consideration of gender issues.

Because of cultural attitudes, discrimination, and a lack of recognition for their role in food
production, women often enjoy few to no benefits from Extension programming or training
in new technologies. FAO (2016) data indicate that women farmers receive only 5 percent
of Extension agricultural services in 97 total countries; that only 15 percent of the world’s
Extension agents are women; and that only 10 percent of total agricultural aid goes to
women.

Considering their socio-cultural traditions and high illiteracy rates, rural women in isolated
areas would benefit greatly from increased numbers of Extension training programs.
Women face greater difficulties than men in accessing services designed to increase
productivity. Therefore, greater efforts should be focused on increasing the number of
Extension workers and programs dedicated to working with women and poultry. This
would boost productivity, increase food security, strengthen rural communities, and
promote transfer of knowledge and skills to rural women living in remote, isolated areas
(Tabler et al., 2019).

Empowerment of Women
African women comprise approximately 70 percent of sub-Saharan agricultural workers
and also account for about 80 percent of food processors (Wakhungu, 2010). Women
commonly make more management and investment decisions about chickens than about
other livestock, although this may vary by region (Campbell et al., 2018), and more
women care for chickens (84 percent) than actually make decisions about their
production (66 percent).

In many developing countries, chickens are often the only livestock under the
independent control of women (Bagnol, 2009; Thieme et al., 2014). Poultry products are
often the main source of income for female-headed households, whereas male-headed
households often have multiple income streams (Muchadeyi et al., 2004; Aklilu et al.,
2008). Ninety percent of income under the control of women is channeled back into their
households or local communities, in contrast with only 30–40 percent for men (OECD,
2009). Women use their income to purchase a larger quantity and variety of foods, to
seek medical care, and to provide schooling for children (Meinzen-Dick et al., 2011).

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In addition, women are underrepresented in higher education research, management,
and decision-making positions. Only 24 percent of African agricultural researchers are
women, and only 14 percent of these researchers hold leadership positions (FAO, 2016).
Because of the current bias toward men in the agriculture sector (Wong et al., 2017),
much of the training, communications, and Extension programming/materials are directed
at men; while women, who are often responsible for village chicken production, may not
receive the information they need (Guèye, 2000; Bagnol, 2012) to increase production
and improve village food security.

According to Mayoux (2009), when an activity becomes lucrative, men, who previously
were not involved in the activity, take over from women. This indicates that poultry
development interventions may not automatically result in an improvement in the situation
for women or the household if increased economic benefits incentivize men to take over
flock management (Alders et al., 2018). Sambo et al. (2015) indicated that, in larger
chicken production operations, men tended to be in control, even though women
contributed a significant portion of the labor. Therefore, Alders et al. (2018) reported it is
critical that poultry development projects include an explicit gendered lens to avoid
eroding women’s control over this important livelihood activity. Ensuring a gender-
sensitive approach at all levels of poultry intervention projects is necessary if women are
to benefit from poultry-raising activities (Guèye, 2000; Bagnol et al., 2013).

Summary
Even though attempts are underway (and should continue) to introduce more efficient
genetics into poultry improvement projects, the importance of indigenous breeds of village
chickens to the rural economy, food security, and community fabric across much of Africa
remains high. Village chickens play vital roles in rural households and are often used to
pay for school materials, uniforms, and education fees; hospital visits and medicine; and
staples such as sugar, salt, oil, or other household items. Chickens are also a source of
high-quality animal protein and play a significant role in socio-cultural village life in rural
communities and also in the empowerment of women. The importance of village chicken
production systems to the livelihoods of women, children, the elderly, and the chronically
ill cannot be overstated.

Village chickens and production systems have survived for thousands of years and have
adapted to harsh environmental conditions. While constraints to achieving maximum
potential impact from these systems are great, many of the concerns can be addressed
with improvements in management strategies that include, among other priorities,
gender-sensitive training and enhanced Extension assistance/materials. Inherent low
production performance of indigenous breeds of village chickens can be improved
through management/husbandry practices, better healthcare/vaccination programs, and
supplementary feeding programs. Village chickens are a rich source of genetic
biodiversity that should be used to promote sustainable development and improve tropical
adaptability and disease resistance.

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Increased Extension efforts, particularly related to training women in village poultry
husbandry and providing training materials, are critical to the success of chicken
production in rural Africa. Increases in the productivity of village chicken flocks will help
reduce poverty, increase women’s empowerment, and improve household food security
and protein intake in rural communities across Africa.

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Publication 3394 (POD-10-19)

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By Tom Tabler, Extension Professor, Poultry Science; Margaret L. Khaitsa, Professor,
Epidemiology (International Emphasis), Department of Pathobiology and Population
Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine; and Jessica Wells, Assistant Clinical/Extension
Professor, Poultry Science.

Copyright 2019 by Mississippi State University. All rights reserved. This publication may
be copied and distributed without alteration for nonprofit educational purposes provided
that credit is given to the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

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