Abstract

The ‘Impacts of Improved Poultry Production Technologies on Smallholder Indigenous Chicken Farmers in the Buea Municipality’ aims to investigate the effects of adopting improved poultry production technologies on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers who rear indigenous chickens in the Buea Municipality. The study will assess the extent to which the adoption of improved technologies has improved productivity, income, and food security among smallholder farmers.

The research will employ both qualitative and quantitative methods to collect data from a sample of smallholder farmers who have adopted improved poultry production technologies and those who have not. The study’s findings will contribute to the existing literature on the adoption of improved agricultural technologies and inform policymakers and stakeholders on the need to promote the use of such technologies among smallholder farmers as a means of enhancing their livelihoods.

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Production of Indigenous Chicken accounts for approximately 40% of all total meat production. Moreover, poultry production in general has become a lucrative sector in the southwest region of Cameroon with the case study of Buea, most smallholder indigenous chicken farmers do not pay attention to the health care of their chickens.

Chicken production is constrained by many extrinsic factors amongst which malnutrition, poor management, insufficient supplement feed and absence of biosecurity are outstanding. Some of these chicken productions are exposed to a higher risk of infection by a variety of parasite which range from lice, mites, fleas (Nnadi, 200). Parasitism causes a reduction in growth, egg production, emaciation and anaemia as well as mortality (Kaufman et el.,2007).

Poultry industry occupies an important position in the provision of animal protein to man and generally plays a vital role in the economy as a revenue provider. The indigenous chicken (IC) population accounts for over 70% of the total chicken population in Africa (FAO, 2011). Nationally, poultry flock was estimated at 35 million, 70% of local chicken (UNS-Cameroon 2001:fosta et Al 2007 b).

In Cameroon , the production figures stood at 46.43 broiler per year or 69,650tones  of poultry meat . In close statistics reveals that each inhabitant in Buea in an estimated population of approximately one hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants(150 inhabitants) from the census of 2005 and eighty four thousand, two hundred and twenty- three inhabitants (84,223 inhabitants) consumes at least 3.48 kilograms of chicken each year.

Indigenous chicken production contributes to nutritional requirements, socio- cultural practices and welfare of the smallholder farmers in Buea Cameroon. Firstly, the chicken provides high-quality protein and a source of income generation among small holder farmers (Mapiye et al., 2008; Okello et al., 2010; Magothe et al., 2012). Secondly, rearing of indigenous chicken production  is linked to different ceremonial roles among the smallholder farmers in Buea. Further, rural indigenous chicken production  provides rural households with cheap animal protein in the form of table eggs and meat (Adomako et al., 2009)

Moreso, the  improvement of  poultry production technologies on smallholder indigenous chicken farmers in Buea, Cameroon will enhance a positive impact for the local community. As reported in a study by Ojong and Mechleb (2018), the use of improved poultry production technologies has allowed local farmers to raise their yields and improve the quality of their output, ultimately leading to more profitability.

Additionally, the safety and hygienic status of their poultry farms has increased due to the widespread adoption of new technologies, reducing the risk of poultry-related illnesses (“The Impact of Improved Poultry,” 2017). By helping to reduce healthcare costs and improve the competence of the local farmers, the adoption of these technologies will create a positive impacts for the people of Buea municipality, Cameroon The production systems of Indigenous chicken in Cameroon (Buea) are classified as either commercial or subsistence production system (Menge et al., 2005).

The extensive subsistence system is the most used system in Cameroon(Buea) among the smallholder Indegenouse Chicken farmers and is characterized by a low input – low output. Consequently, the age at first egg of the scavenging Indegenouse Chicken is between 203– 220 days, which is longer compared to commercialized production

According to Republic of Cameroon , factors related to the low productivity of indigenous chicken in buea include: low genetic potential, feed shortage, disease outbreak and increased chick mortalities. Other studies have revealed different factors leading to low production levels of Indegenouse Chicken in Buea Cameroon.

Improved production methods, such as the use of feed ration and vaccine administration, have led to significant increases in chicken health, mortality and egg production (it has been estimated that improved feed efficiency has decreased chicken mortality from 10-25% to 1.5%) (Ambe, 2017). More importantly, the increased yields have allowed rural smallholders to increase their profits up to 350% (Ombori, 2018). Furthermore, improved production technologies are providing smallholders with a means to cope with climatic and environmental stresses and ensure the long term livelihood of their

In addition, improved poultry production technologies have had a significant impact on smallholder indigenous chicken farmers in the Buea municipality. These technologies have enabled farmers to increase their chicken production, while also improving the health and quality of the poultry. This has resulted in both economic and social benefits for the farmers and the municipality as a whole.

1.2. Problem Statement

-This indigenous has gone a long way to increase the rate of pollution in the areas of concentration thus, leading to social discomfort.

– This production, has brought has forth differences in the level of income between those involved in it. That is, the rich invest more making them to become richer while the poor are only concentrated on their small business scale.

– During some seasons especially the rainy season, there is the prevalence of some bird diseases like bird-flue which will attack the lives of the chicken making those involved in the business to experience loses hence, they work on a deficit.

-There is a negative impact on the poultry production on small holder indigenous chicken farmers in Buea.

-There is a negative impact caused by diseases on indigenous chicken in Buea municipality like

1.3. Research Questions

1.3.1 Main research question

What are the impacts of improved poultry production technologies on smallholder’s indigenous chicken farmers in Buea municipality?

1 3.2 Specific research question

1. Who are the smallholder indigenous chicken famers in the Buea municipality?
2. What are the improved poultry production technologies in the Buea municipality?
3. What are the challenges of the smallholder indigenous chicken farmers related to improved poultry production technologies?
4. What are the strategies to solve the challenges of smallholder indigenous chicken farmers related to improved poultry production technologies?