Farm Family Characteristics and Succession Planning of Poultry Farmers in Oyo and Osun States, Nigeria

Abstract

South-western Nigeria has a long history of small business entrepreneurship activities, apprenticeship and inheritance systems. Yet, there are few studies and records of poultry business inheritance over the last three or four generations of poultry business owners as a sign of succession planning. This study assessed the family characteristics of the poultry farmers and their relationship with the succession planning of the poultry farming business in Oyo and Osun states of Nigeria. Two hundred and forty-four (244) members of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) within these two states constituted the sample. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as Chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) was used for data analysis. Results of the study revealed that (i) poultry farmers in the two states are highly educated with modal educational level of majority (79.1%) being tertiary education (ii) greater than half (54.5%) of them are between the ages of 40 and 60 years and the populations mean age is 43.8 years. Significant positive connections were found between the educational status of the incumbent poultry farm owners and their children, with majority (61.5%) of the oldest child and few (37.4%) of their youngest farm child having tertiary education (such as Bachelors degree and HND certificates). With this educational background, it is anticipated that farm succession/farm transition should be easier among this generation of poultry farmers if explored. In fact 41.0% of these oldest poultry farm children were found to be between the active age of 21-30 years old, hence farmers in this study area should not hesitate or delay to plan for succession with their children and embark on early succession planning. It is thus recommended that Nigerian small and medium scale (SMEs) poultry entrepreneurs should take the challenges of farm succession practices and incorporate intra-family succession planning activities/practices early into their business so as to enhance future sustainability of their farms. Government should encourage poultry farmers to promote farming culture among their educated children with no gender discrimination and also give special annual bonus packages or tax; rebate to farmers who can present good evidence of succession planning on their farms.