Effects of socio-economic factors on small ruminant production in Ohafia Agricultural Zone of Abia State, Nigeria

E.I Offor,N.M Ekweanya,A.C Oleka

doi:10.4314/as.v17i3.2

Abstract

The study investigated the socio-economic factors affecting small ruminant production in Ohafia Agricultural Zone of Abia state. Specifically the study examined the socioeconomic characteristic of the small ruminant farmers, management system of production, estimated the net return of the enterprises, determinants of small ruminant production and identify constraints militating against small ruminant animal production the study area. A multi stage sampling technique was used to sample for eighty (80) respondents from Bende and Ohafia local government areas, forty respondents from each respectively. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive such as frequency and percentages. More so gross margin and regression models were also used. Results of the study showed that the respondents had a mean age of thirty–nine (39) years. About 57.5% were males, 56.3% were married, 98.5% had one form of education or the other, a yearly income of ₦ 68,438 was estimated. The gross margin estimate showed that the enterprise was profitable. The F-ratio was statistically significant at 5%, socio-economic characteristics such as age, household size, income and rearing experience, were statistically significant at various level and were the major factor that influenced small ruminant production. Major constraints identified include; insufficient fund, disease incidence, and others. The study therefore recommends that younger people should be encouraged into small ruminant production because small ruminant animal production is laborious. The younger people are energetic to take up the task involved. The farmers should also form cooperative societies to increase their access to credit facilities. Keywords: socio-economic, characteristics, profit, small ruminants, production

Highlights

Livestock production is a very important segment of agriculture
This could be attributed to the production system and the factors that influenced the production of these small ruminant animals
The indigenes of the zone are Igbo speaking and their major occupation is farming. They are involved in crop and small ruminant animal production

Summary

Introduction

Livestock production is a very important segment of agriculture. It is referred to as one or more domesticated animals raised in agricultural settings to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labour. Despite the importance of livestock in the economy and the large number of the different species, Nigeria has not been able to provide animal protein sufficient enough in quantity and quality to meet the per capital animal protein requirement of the citizens. This could be attributed to the production system and the factors that influenced the production of these small ruminant animals. Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation (CTA) (2009) reported that farm animals such as sheep, goats, pig, and rabbits are largely produced at subsistence level on small scale production. In the eastern part of the country where livestock production is not taken

Methods

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Conclusion