Crossbred poultry adoption and impact: Evidence from Ethiopia

Abstract

Growing efforts to achieve improved family poultry signify the importance of adoption and livelihood impact studies of crossbred poultry in Ethiopia. We employ the second panel Ethiopian Socioeconomic Survey (ESS) to study the determinants of crossbred poultry adoption and its significance for household well-being. Results show that female poultry managers, constrained in other productive livelihood options, are more likely to adopt crossbred poultry. Households that are relatively wealthier in terms of human resources, assets, and dwelling conditions are more inclined to adopt crossbred poultry. Access to advisory services, experience with other crossbred animals, and the size of the agricultural land are among other significant determinants. Concerning well-being outcomes, crossbred poultry adoption increases egg sales and revenue. The sample does not provide sufficient evidence to conclude any impact on food, non-food consumption, or investment in children's human capital. Predicted revenue from an extra layer chicken in crossbreed adopting households triples the predicted revenue from egg sales in local breed keeping households. Increasing average flock size twice by crossbred birds could generate an annual revenue equal to at least 10% of yearly consumption expenditure. These results suggest that flock sizes in rural family poultry production should be increased with more crossbred birds to sustain livelihoods significantly.