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Summary
Small backyard poultry producers face high production costs, in particular feed costs. They lack all-year markets and are facing competition from frozen imports. They must adjust to the forces of market liberalisation if poultry production livelihood opportunities are to be maintained. The small family producer is unable to adjust to the changing environment because of the lack of technical knowledge, business planning skills, knowledge of the market chain, and credit. Unless back-yard producers become more cost-effective, and improve their market, family livelihoods, and the opportunities they present, in particular for women and young men, will be lost.
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| Primary Relevance |
Low - High |
| Feeding and Nutrition |
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| Animal Health |
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| Commodities and Markets |
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| Other Husbandry |
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| Policy Relevance |
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Documents
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The objectives of this work were to:
- Identify the role and importance of back-yard poultry production to peri-urban livelihoods and to characterise different peri-urban target groups;
- Develop appropriate technical interventions and business methods for small-scale backyard poultry producers to increase productivity, and improve household income generation using the participatory technology development approach. Specific feed interventions will be examined in producers' flocks;
- Provide market information to improve market opportunities through product or service intervention with the objective of assisting market expansion for small producers;
- To obtain a historical perspective on poultry unit development and to examine the possibilities of using this experience to assist younger, smaller, scavenger or less intensive systems to expand or intensify their system.
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| Perhaps one of the most important changes that could be achieved by small-scale poultry producers is to organise themselves effectively into producer associations and to acquire the skills required to effectively market their products, thus achieving a greater share ofthe final product price. Such organisation might also lead to improvements in the supply of inputs such as vaccines and day-old chicks, both of which are a concern to some of the farming community. Large, powerful associations may also be able to hire specialist advisors, or provide the incentive for the development of private practitioners. The state sector is perhaps best placed to encourage and hasten this development by advising and helping small farmers to set up and organise such associations. Given that such associations have not always been successful in the past, firm guidance from the state sector would seem to be essential.
Backyard poultry production plays an important role as the main or secondary occupation for the peri-urban farmers participating in this survey. Small-scale poultry producers are confronted with several problems. Constraints associated with inputs such as availability of day old chicks, feed availability, cost and quality and marketing of produce among others, post a gloomy and uncertain future for the industry. It is important to assist farmers with training and information. In particular, empowerment through training in the areas of feed formulations, formation of marketing associations and business management information would go a long way to sustain small-scale production of commercial poultry as a backyard activity in peri-urban environments. |
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