Characteristics of the smallholder poultry production systems in selected districts in

Uganda

J. OlukaE. SsewannyannaJ. W. K. Masaba

G. W. Egadu S. Oluka

Uganda Medical Association – Uganda Veterinary Association Joint Scientific Conference14th - 16th FEBRUARY 2013

Hotel Africana, Kampala Uganda

Introduction• Smallholder poultry production in developing countries is a major source of protein from eggs and meat and also income gaining more importance and relevance in the socio-economic livelihood of small scale farmers (FAO,1982; Mukiibi-Muka, 1982).

• Smallholder poultry production is primarily from free-range low input management system with potential as conduit for spread of deadly trans-boundary zoonotic diseases like the dreaded HPAI

• The study was formulated to generate information to better understand the SHPS to enable formulation of appropriate interventions for disease prevention and control in support of the poultry sector and protect farmers from disease threats and maintain sustainable livelihoods of beneficiary communities

Free ranging chickens

Study areas in Uganda

Survey study

Areas districts:

North-Western Savannah grassland: Arua = 125

South Western Highland ranges: Kanungu = 125

South Easter Kyoga Plains: Tororo = 125

North Eastern Savannah Grassland:Lira = 125

Data analysis: Microsoft Excel 2007 - coding SPSS and SAS – descriptive and inferences

Household land and family size and communication access

Characteristic

Factor Arua Kanungu Lira Tororo

Family size (%.)

1-5 44.8 35.2 23.2 19.2

6-9 26.4 48.0 50.4 48.0

>9 28.8 16.8 26.4 32.8

HH Land size (Ha)

< 0.3 5.0 16.0 6.4 16.8

0.3 - 5 84.3 78.4 85.6 73.6

Radio Access (%)

Yes 90.4 97.6 88.0 72.8

No 9.6 2.4 12.0 27.2

Mobile Access (%)

Yes 36.8 40.8 34.4 59.2

No 63.2 59.2 65.6 40.8

Results and discussion

Household head and respondents relationship and education

Character Factor Arua Kanungu Lira Tororo

Altitude Feet 3765 4165 3456 3630

Educational Level of Respondent (%)

None 22.4 4.8 19.2 14.4

Primary 51.2 64.0 60.8 41.6

Secondary 14.4 19.2 15.2 34.4

Tertiary 12.0 12.0 4.8 9.6

Educational Level of HH Head (%)

None 17.6 8.0 20.8 14.4

Primary 56.8 64.8 63.2 48.8

Secondary 12.0 15.2 15.2 30.4

Tertiary 13.6 12.0 10.8 2.8

Land size per household

Educational level of household head

High household sizes but low land area creating an environment for small enterprises predominated by poultry keeping

Good educational levels and access to communication through phone and radio useful aids to sharing information related to management and control of diseases

The average numbers of animals per household

  ARUA KANUNGU LIRA TORORO OVERALL

Cattle 2.68 4.54 3.85 2.48 3.39

Goats 3.48 5.82 4 4.45 4.44

Sheep 0.45 0.75 0.68 0.38 0.56

pigs 0.61 0.98 0.86 0.79 0.81

Chickens 9.77 7.82 9.15 12.48 9.68

Nos

Average numbers of animals per household by species

Major crops grown by HH %

Crop Overall Arua Kanungu Lira Tororo

Cassava 80 18.6 17.4 19.6 24.4

Maize 53.2 11.8 13.4 12.0 16.0

Millet 47.4 16.4 9.4 12.8 8.8

G. nuts 36.2 6.8 8.0 8.4 13.0

S.Potatoes 38.0 7.2 13.8 9.4 7.6

Beans 64.4 14.6 21.0 16.4 12.4

Coffee 12.0 0.8 7.0 3.0 1.2

Simsim 14.8 8.0 0.8 4.6 1.4

Bananas 13.6 1.6 6.0 3.0 1.6

Sorghum 27.2 7.8 2.6 32.6 10.4

Major crops produced in the study areas

Crops produced in study area

The number of birds per household is largest compared to other livestock species

However, crop production in the SHPS is a major activity with cassava, maize, maize and cereals predominating

Crop production plays a complementary socio-economic role in poultry production in the fragile low input SHP system

Characteristics of small holder free range production systems

• Mainly indigenous chickens kept

• Freely scavenging for feed

• Households with small land size (<1 ha )

• Limited land for crop production

• Chicken droppings disposal hardly used as manure

• Poor housing with birds sleeping in trees

 Season

Household responses to effect of season causing reduction of numbers

(%)

Perceived major causes of reduction during a particular season

Wet 42.4 Chilling especially for chicks

Dry 52.2 Disease epidemics

District (%) Arua Kanungu

Lira Tororo

Overall

No House 30.54 12.0 16.8 5.6 16.2

Simple Construction with local material

68.8 65.6 78.4 92.0 75.2

Simple construction with purchased material

0.8 19.2 4.0 - 6.2

Improved construction (disease, pest control)

- 3.2 - 2.4 1.4

Type of poultry housing

Housing status by district

Overall housing status (83.8%)

Farmers allow birds to sleep on trees believing that it reduces diseases, pests infestation and theft

The practice instead allows contact with wild as well as migratory birds that may carry deadly zoonotic and trans- boundary diseases such as HPAI

Overcrowding that occurs in housed birds believed to encourage infestation and spread of diseases and pests to humans

Better management practices are disconnected with farmers perceptions with regards to role od housing, feeding and health care

Farmer perceptions on housing for birds

Poor access to veterinary services as only 15% household use vet services while 85% do not; and low vaccination at 16%

New castle Disease (NCD ) a major cause of epidemics and now probably the biggest constraint to poultry production

Extension veterinary services not adequately rolled out to effectively prevent and control poultry diseases and pests

Poor education on housing of birds and role in controlling disease outbreaks and threat zoonosis diseases 

Extension services constraints

Possible interventions

• Strong policy on disease control

• Improvement of extension services especially on disease prevention and control

• Access to credit and subsidies on inputs

• Improved infrastructure

• Support cooperative marketing for poultry products

Conclusions and recommendations

Indigenous chickens are produced in Uganda under low input conditions limited by inadequate land, labour, capital, knowledge and skills

Diseases are the most preventable causes of mortality where current vaccination levels and housing are not sufficient enough for disease and pest control making the system prone to a possible outbreak of HPAI and other zoonosis

Strong policies, effective extension services and necessary infrastructure are needed to prevent and control poultry diseases to avert a possible dreaded disease epidemic such as HPAI

AcknowledgementGoU MAAIFNAROFAO Local Government and civic leadersDVOsExtension workersFarmersMakerere university (Vet. Medicine)NaLIRRI

Thank you for

listening