The diversity of smallholder chicken farming in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania reveals a range of underlying production constraints
ABSTRACT: The poultry industry in Tanzania has grown steadily over the past decade. We surveyed 121 chicken farming households along an intensification gradient from backyard to semi-intensive and intensive production systems based on rearing system and assumed purpose and poultry breed in the Iring...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Poultry Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579122003534 |
| _version_ | 1798031812019093504 |
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| author | Wilson C. Wilson Maja Slingerland Simon Oosting Frederick P. Baijukya Anne-Jo Smits Ken E. Giller |
| author_facet | Wilson C. Wilson Maja Slingerland Simon Oosting Frederick P. Baijukya Anne-Jo Smits Ken E. Giller |
| author_sort | Wilson C. Wilson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT: The poultry industry in Tanzania has grown steadily over the past decade. We surveyed 121 chicken farming households along an intensification gradient from backyard to semi-intensive and intensive production systems based on rearing system and assumed purpose and poultry breed in the Iringa region. About 30% of households had more than one breed and/or rearing system combination. The subdivision of poultry systems was refined by adding the size of the flocks to highlight variation in scale of operations. On this basis we distinguished 3 main types: 1) subsistence small-scale free-range chicken production; 2) market-oriented small to medium scale semi-intensive and 3) small to medium-large scale intensive systems. ‘Intensification’ involves the transition from keeping indigenous chickens to improved dual-purpose and exotic breeds driven by greater productivity and potential for income generation. The more intensive the production system, the more the intensity and diversity of diseases identified by farmers as their main problem, which was partly attributed to the greater sensitivity of the improved breeds, poor veterinary measures, and the high chicken density facilitating disease spread. Based on the survey we constructed a problem tree to classify the underlying constraints and their interrelations, and to identify common root causes, based on which we propose practical solutions to improve chicken production. Development of medium-large scale systems is particularly constrained by a limited supply of 1-day-old chicks and theft. By contrast, intensification of small-scale systems is constrained by limited access to quality feed, vaccines and medicines, capital, and lack of a reliable market, partly due to the absence of farmer organization. These constraints can be addressed through formation of producer groups and promotion of outgrower and enterprise development models. Enterprise development appears to be the most promising business model for smallholder chicken farmers given that it allows farmers more freedom in decision-making and management while strengthening linkages with input suppliers and output markets to ensure a viable and profitable business. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T20:03:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7a8948333a69443ab93748a883094dde |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0032-5791 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T20:03:36Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Poultry Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-7a8948333a69443ab93748a883094dde2022-12-22T04:05:29ZengElsevierPoultry Science0032-57912022-10-0110110102062The diversity of smallholder chicken farming in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania reveals a range of underlying production constraintsWilson C. Wilson0Maja Slingerland1Simon Oosting2Frederick P. Baijukya3Anne-Jo Smits4Ken E. Giller5Plant Production Systems Group, Wageningen University, 6700 AK Wageningen, the Netherlands; Animal Production Systems Group, Wageningen University, 6700 AH Wageningen, the Netherlands; International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), P.O. Box 34441, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Tanzania Livestock Research Institute (TALIRI), Uyole Centre, P.O. Box 6191, Mbeya, Tanzania; Corresponding author:Plant Production Systems Group, Wageningen University, 6700 AK Wageningen, the NetherlandsAnimal Production Systems Group, Wageningen University, 6700 AH Wageningen, the NetherlandsInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), P.O. Box 34441, Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaPoultry Expertise Centre, Aeres, 3771 RN Barneveld, the NetherlandsPlant Production Systems Group, Wageningen University, 6700 AK Wageningen, the NetherlandsABSTRACT: The poultry industry in Tanzania has grown steadily over the past decade. We surveyed 121 chicken farming households along an intensification gradient from backyard to semi-intensive and intensive production systems based on rearing system and assumed purpose and poultry breed in the Iringa region. About 30% of households had more than one breed and/or rearing system combination. The subdivision of poultry systems was refined by adding the size of the flocks to highlight variation in scale of operations. On this basis we distinguished 3 main types: 1) subsistence small-scale free-range chicken production; 2) market-oriented small to medium scale semi-intensive and 3) small to medium-large scale intensive systems. ‘Intensification’ involves the transition from keeping indigenous chickens to improved dual-purpose and exotic breeds driven by greater productivity and potential for income generation. The more intensive the production system, the more the intensity and diversity of diseases identified by farmers as their main problem, which was partly attributed to the greater sensitivity of the improved breeds, poor veterinary measures, and the high chicken density facilitating disease spread. Based on the survey we constructed a problem tree to classify the underlying constraints and their interrelations, and to identify common root causes, based on which we propose practical solutions to improve chicken production. Development of medium-large scale systems is particularly constrained by a limited supply of 1-day-old chicks and theft. By contrast, intensification of small-scale systems is constrained by limited access to quality feed, vaccines and medicines, capital, and lack of a reliable market, partly due to the absence of farmer organization. These constraints can be addressed through formation of producer groups and promotion of outgrower and enterprise development models. Enterprise development appears to be the most promising business model for smallholder chicken farmers given that it allows farmers more freedom in decision-making and management while strengthening linkages with input suppliers and output markets to ensure a viable and profitable business.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579122003534farm diversitychicken feedintensificationpoultry managementproblem tree |
| spellingShingle | Wilson C. Wilson Maja Slingerland Simon Oosting Frederick P. Baijukya Anne-Jo Smits Ken E. Giller The diversity of smallholder chicken farming in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania reveals a range of underlying production constraints Poultry Science farm diversity chicken feed intensification poultry management problem tree |
| title | The diversity of smallholder chicken farming in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania reveals a range of underlying production constraints |
| title_full | The diversity of smallholder chicken farming in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania reveals a range of underlying production constraints |
| title_fullStr | The diversity of smallholder chicken farming in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania reveals a range of underlying production constraints |
| title_full_unstemmed | The diversity of smallholder chicken farming in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania reveals a range of underlying production constraints |
| title_short | The diversity of smallholder chicken farming in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania reveals a range of underlying production constraints |
| title_sort | diversity of smallholder chicken farming in the southern highlands of tanzania reveals a range of underlying production constraints |
| topic | farm diversity chicken feed intensification poultry management problem tree |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579122003534 |
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