Abstract:
To improve the productivity of poultry thereby increase farmers’ and national income,
adoption of exotic poultry breeds is one of the alternatives that are undertaken in different
parts of the country. However, the adoption and dissemination of these breeds are constrained
by different factors. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess farmers’ perceptions towards the
benefits and constraints of rearing exotic poultry, assess the contribution of exotic poultry
breeds to the smallholder producers’ income and dietary diversity and identify the
determinants of adoption of exotic poultry breeds in Tselemti and Tahtay Koraro Woredas, in
North Western Zone of Tigray Region. A multi-stage random sampling technique was
employed to select the sample respondents for the study. Sample respondents were categorized
into adopters and non-adopters of exotic poultry breeds. Based on probability proportional to
size 110 adopters and 154 non-adopters were identified out of 264 total sample respondents in
the two Woredas. The primary data were collected through personal interview and focus
group discussion using semi-structured interview schedule and checklist, respectively. The
study employed analytical strategies such as percentage, frequency, mean and standard
deviations, and inferential statistics such as t-test and χ2 test to see the mean difference
between adopters and non-adopters. Moreover, binary logistic regression model was
employed to identify the determinants of adoption of exotic poultry. Based on their perception
farmers remarked rearing of exotic poultry is beneficial due to their higher egg production,
fast growing chicken and higher selling price of egg, and they are constrained by
susceptibility to diseases and predators, unaffordable cost of chicks, needs more husbandry
and needs more feeds as compared to the local poultry breeds. Besides, adopters were better
in diversifying their dietary, consuming more eggs, and gain better income from poultry than
non-adopters. The average annual income of chicken were 2051.52 and 939.12 Birr for
adopters and non- adopters, respectively. An average of 4.49 and 3.51 food group items was
consumed by adopters and non-adopters, respectively by 24 hours recall during before a
survey day. On the other hand, the result from the logit model revealed that out of the total 13
variables, eight variables, namely; sex, educational status, family size, training, access to
exotic poultry breed, extension contact, total livestock holding and distance to market were
statistically significant in influencing the adoption decision of exotic poultry breeds at
different levels of significance. Therefore, these factors which influenced the adoption decision
of exotic poultry breeds should be considered and receive due. Besides, the farmers should be
aware of the benefits of using exotic poultry breeds. Moreover, focus should be given on the
constraints such as diseases, predators, lack of vaccination services and unaffordable cost of
chicks which are identified by the respondents in using the exotic poultry breeds so as to
enhance adoption of exotic poultry breeds in a sustainable way. Furthermore, further research
study should be conducted aimed at identifying the common poultry diseases and predators in
the study area