Influence of the utilization of monitoring and evaluation tools on the performance of small scale broiler poultry farming projects: a case of Nyeri county, Kenya

Abstract

Poultry meat has always been regarded as a delicacy, as white meat and considered healthier than red meat. Broiler chicken grows within the shortest time of three weeks unlike beef and mutton which take time for a cow and sheep to reach maturity. Broiler farming is helping in the easy availability of white meat at a cheaper and faster way since broilers are reared within three to four weeks hence return rates are faster. With time, broiler farming has gained popularity since poultry meat consumption is raising and Kenya is no exceptional. For small scale farmers to maximize on the performance of their broilers and make profits, they need to constantly monitor and evaluate the progressive growth of the broiler chick up to the time they are ready for market. Monitoring and evaluation tools which aid in the measurement of their performance, would easily enhance their farming and performance of the broiler farming in the form of daily rearing records, farm visits by technical experts, broiler farmers support groups and capacity building. In light of this observation, there is a clear need for more extensive researches on the utilization of monitoring and evaluation tools used by small scale broiler farmers in Kenya. In order to fill this knowledge gap, this study sought to investigate influence of the utilization of four monitoring and evaluation tools on the performance of small scale broiler poultry farming projects in Nyeri County, Kenya. Four objectives guided the study. The research objectives sought to; establish how daily rearing records influence the performance of small scale broiler farming; assess the extent to which farm visits by the technical experts influences the performance of small scale broiler farming; analyse how broiler farmers support groups influences the performance of small scale broiler farming; determine how capacity building influence the performance of small scale broiler farming. Literature review focused on the main aspects of broiler poultry farming performance, farm rearing records, farm visits by the technical experts, broiler farmers support groups, and broiler farmers capacity building. The study employed descriptive survey. The target population was a total of 70 small scale broiler farmers rearing a maximum of 2,000 broiler chicks per flock in Nyeri County. A sample size of 59 farmers was obtained from three constituencies out of the six in Nyeri County. Data was collected using questionnaires and observation schedules. The instruments were validated by use of content validity. Test-retest method was used to examine the reliability of the instruments. Data was analysed by use of descriptive statistics and content analysis and was be presented by used of frequency distribution tables. The Pearson Moment Correlation Coefficient revealed that there is negligible negative relationship (-0.1) between daily rearing records and performance of small scale broiler poultry farming projects. The findings of the study indicate that majority of the farmers keep mainly record of feed intake and mortality only. Pearson correlation on the broiler farmers support groups revealed that there was negligible negative relationship (-0.163) between broiler support groups and performance of small scale broiler farming. The findings revealed that majority of the farmers did not belong to any group, selfhelp group or social media and that there was no agricultural cooperative society for broiler farmers. Pearson correlation on technical expert visits to the broiler farms also revealed a weak negative relationship (-0.24) between farm visits by technical experts and performance of small scale broiler farming. The findings showed that there was no assigned technical expert from the government but most of them were from the broiler chicks and feed suppliers companies. Pearson correlation revealed that there is a positive negligible relationship (0.68) between capacity building and performance of broiler poultry farming. Based on the findings, the study concluded that training is very vital before venturing and during broiler farming. The study recommended that the government and NGOs should consider getting involved in broiler farming for better and easy technical support, financial support and standardized broiler farming business regulations.