Evaluation of the socioeconomic characteristics of poultry farmers in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed rural poultry extension services in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta
State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected using interview schedule with 120 household poultry rearers
that were selected randomly from four communities in the local government area. Data were analyzed
using frequency counts, percentages, Pearson product moment correlation (PPMC) and analysis of
variance (ANOVA). Findings showed that majority of the respondents were females 61.67 and 35% were
above 50 years, and 70% were married with household size of 5 to 8 (30.83%), while 43.22% had no formal
education. Also majority reared poultry on free range (53.3%), had stock sizes of ≤ 20 birds (77.50%) and
36.44% had poultry experience of above 15 years. About 92.50% had no contact with extension agent.
There was poor access to improved poultry information and technologies (all < cut-off) while high needs
were expressed with handling day old chicks and control of pest and diseases having mean=2.83 each and
deworming (mean=2.78). Stock size (r= -0.312; p=0.001) and extension contact (r= - 0.455; p=0.001) were
significant negatively related to rural poultry extension services required. Scavenge-based poultry farmers
indicated the greatest need for extension services (F= 5.81; p = 0.01). It was recommended that Delta State
ADP and affiliate programmes should deploy extension agents/facilitators to the study area and ensure
that information and technologies on poultry are addressed.