Factors Influencing Establishment Of Indigenous Chicken Value Chain In Hamisi Constituency, Vihiga County, Kenya

Abstract

The value chain approach embraces the full range of activities which are required to bring a product or service from conception, through the intermediary phases of production, delivery to final consumers, and final disposal after use. Traditionally extension agents have concentrated their efforts on technology transfer that targeted production aspects of a poultry and ignored other factors of the value chain. Most farmers specialize in production and may be excluded from decision making about issues that affect them outside their farms. There exists a knowledge gap of what potential there is for income generation and employment creation in the indigenous chicken value chain. Despite their hard work farmers continue to have low incomes resulting into low living standards. There are several factors that influence the Indigenous Chicken Value Chain. This study aimed to explore how factors of credit, disease control, extension services and market infrastructure influences the establishment of the indigenous chicken value chain in Hamisi Constituency, Vihiga County. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. The target population consisted of 302 farmers who were members of 23 chicken farmers’ groups, 13 Agrovet attendants, 15 Indigenous Chicken Traders and one agricultural extension officer assigned to the study area. A random sample of 169 farmers was drawn from the 302 farmers using simple random sampling, with the guide of research randomizer generator. All the Agrovet attendants, extension service provider and IC traders were included in the study, as their number was small to sample. The reliability coefficient for the farmers’ instrument obtained was 0.811(see appendix I). This was considered adequate for the study. Data was analyzed using frequencies, means, median, mode, variance and correlations. Results from the study indicated that control of NCD had significant influence (r=0.588) on the establishment of the indigenous chicken value chain in Hamisi Constituency. The correlation between the establishment of ICVC and Extension services was of r=0.33, Market access at r=0.117 and that with Credit access was low at r=0.016. Market facilities for slaughter, cold storage and dedicated sell outlets for birds were completely lacking in all the major market centers in the study area. Local authorities in consultation with relevant technical departments should invest in market infrastructure that will enhance sales of chicken and other chicken products. Extension Officers should be increased from the current 1 to at least 7 in order to adequately meet the demand of the services. They should embrace the value chain approach and provide information on credit. Credit providers should educate the masses on accessibility and types of credit they offer, being clear on terms and conditions so as to eliminate the negative perception on loans. The thermal stable NCD vaccine should be made available in rural areas where electricity is not available. Local leaders should educate and encourage farmers to commercialize indigenous chicken production as a means of poverty reduction.