Information Needs of Indigenous Chicken Farmers in Enugu State: Implications for Agricultural Extension Service

Abstract

Aims: The study ascertained the information needs of indigenous chicken (Gallus domesticus) farmers. Study Design: Multistage sampling technique was utilized in selecting respondents. Place and Duration: Nsukka and Enugu-Ezike agricultural zones of Enugu State, Nigeria between November 2012 to May 2013. Methodology: Simple random sampling technique was used to select four blocks from each of the two agricultural zones and five cells from each of the selected blocks. This gave a total of twenty cells. One hundred indigenous farmers were then selected across the twenty cells. Interview schedule was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics such as percentages, frequency counts and mean scores were used in presenting data. The statistical package used for data analysis was SPSS. Results: Majority (93.0%) of the respondents were females, married (67.0%). About 42.0% had no formal education while up to 95% had no extension contact for the past one year. Sixty one percent of the respondents had no access to credit and majority (89.0%) participated in rural social organizations. The respondents indicated that they needed information on the specification of drugs, availability of day old chicks, pests and disease control and methods of vaccination, among others Also, respondents carried out management practices such as provision of supplementary feeding, drinking water, use of various disease control measures and reared their chicken using the extensive system of production. Seventy percent of the respondents sourced information on indigenous chicken management practices. Out of the 70%, 58% and 10% sourced such information from family/friends and other farmers, respectively. Adequate information on poultry production practices should be disseminated by extension agents so as to improve indigenous chicken production.