| dc.description.abstract | The paper examined factors affecting performance of small and medium scale poultry
farming enterprises in Karuri, Kenya. Descriptive research was used to answer the
research questions on the current status of the subject of the study and in reference to
the objectives of the study. The target population under the study was small scale
poultry farming enterprise in Karuri, Kenya while the accessible population was the
list of 154 small scale poultry farming enterprises in Karuri, Kenya the study based its
sample on 45 test units. Questionnaire was used to collect primary data from the
respondents. The data was quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed and presented as
frequency and percentages tables.
The study findings were able to show that marketing was ranked number as number
one challenge facing farmers in the area. The major factor affecting marketing is the
low buying prices being offered by traders in the local markets. Opportunities
identified in this research from the respondent were; exploring and promoting
strategies for increasing the growth rate and mature size of the poultry, crossbreeding
with exotic breeds and upgrading the local chickens by using selected indigenous
types. There is need to evaluate and modify both the local, traditional knowledge and
foreign mechanism with the aim of developing appropriate strategies for improving
poultry production in Karuri, Kenya. The way forward is to mobilize all stakeholders
involved in promoting poultry production, consumption and marketing in the district
to plan the way forward. | en |
