Abstract: This study explores farmer’s knowledge in four select factors affecting performance of projects of broiler chicken in Trans-Nzoia County, Kenya. The performance of projects of broiler chicken in the county had been rated as unsatisfactory with average harvest recovery rate of 80%. The study objectives were; to establish the effect of farmer’s knowledge level in feeds, disease control, marketing of broilers and cost of production on performance of projects of broiler chicken. The study target population was farmers with current broiler chicken projects. Descriptive survey design was employed and data was collected through a census involving fourty (40) farmers who implemented broiler chicken projects in the months of May to July 2015. Ten (10) Livestock officers were also interviewed. Questionnaires and interview schedule were used to gather information from farmers and livestock officers respectively. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. Data processing was carried out through coding, editing and tabulation. Descriptive statistical method was employed to analyze data using SPSS and Microsoft-excel softwares. The means for farmer’s Knowledge level in poultry feeds, disease control and cost of production were good while the mean for marketing of broilers was fair. The study established that farmer’s knowledge level in the studied factors caused variability in performance of projects of broiler chicken as follows; feeds and feeding 15.7%, diseases control 15.9%, marketing of broilers 17.2% and cost of broiler production 7.8%. In total, farmer’s knowledge level in feeds, disease control, marketing and cost of production accounts for 56.6% variability in performance of projects of broiler chicken. 43.4% variability in performance was attributed to other variables not investigated by the study. Farmers knowledge level showed positive correlation to performance for the four factors studied and the correlation was significant (P<0.001) in each case. These findings can be used by farmers, researchers and the government in policy formulation. Further research is recommended on effect of farmer’s knowledge level in other factors which affect performance of projects of broiler chicken.
Keywords: Farmers knowledge, Broiler, chicken, Project, performance.
Title: Effect of Farmer’s Knowledge in Poultry on Performance of Projects of Broiler Chicken in Trans-Nzoia County-Kenya
Author: Nicodemus Oduor Nyongesa, Dr. William Sakataka
International Journal of Management and Commerce Innovations
ISSN 2348-7585 (Online)
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