DETERMINANTS OF EXOTIC POULTRY BREEDS ADOPTION BY SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN GIBE DISTRICT, HADIYA ZONE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This study was conducted in Gibe district, Hadiya zone, Ethiopia. The general objective of the research was assessing the adoption of exotic poultry breed and estimates their contribution to household welfare by smallholder farmers. The specific objectives were to assess perception of farmers about exotic poultry breeds, identify factors that determine the probability and intensity of exoticpoultry adoption among rural chickenproducersand examine the contribution ofexotic poultry production to household income and consumption. Using multistage sampling method, 155 households were selected for interview. Structured questionnaire, focus group discussions and key informant interview were employed to collect quantitative and qualitative data.Descriptive statistics, inferential statistics and econometric model were used for data analysis. From the total fourteen variables, ten of them show statistically significant difference between adopters and non-adopters. Based on the perception of farmers,the benefits (advantages) of exotic poultry breeds production includes higher market price of a live chickens, egg production capacity, early maturing chicks, preference for and high market price of eggs from exotic breeds. On the other hand, exoticpoultry breeds are less preferred due to their susceptibility to disease, lack of vaccination, limited access and high price of chicks and need for more care. Double-hurdle econometric model was employed to identify determinants and intensity of exoticpoultry breeds adoption in the study area. Accordingly, the result of probit regression (first-hurdle) estimation procedure household size, farm size, livestock holding, experience of rearing exoticpoultry, distance to the nearest market and access to credit service were found to be significant determinants of adoption of exoticpoultry breed at 1% whereas households assessment of poultry output taste, participation in cooperatives at 5% level. At the last, the truncated regression (second-hurdle) estimation procedure showed that experience of rearing exoticpoultry found to influence intensity of exotic poultry breeds adoption at 1%, participation in cooperatives at 5% and sex of household head, off/non-farm income and distance to the nearest market at 10%. On average, adopters of exotic breeds earn 762.61 ETB more than non-adopterannually from the sale of eggs and a live chicken. In addition, adopters of exotic poultry breedsscore higher than non-adopters in food consumption, particularly egg and poultry. Also, adopters were found to be better in consuming diversified diet than non-adopters according to data obtained through seven days recall method..Therefore, the study concludes that, the probability of adoption and intensity of adoption of exotic poultry will be sustained through paying attention and moving along with those variables influencing the adoption decision and intensity significantly.