ABSTRACT

The study investigated the Economics of Poultry Production in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Specifically, the objectives were to determine the socio-economic characteristics of poultry producers, examine the relationship between production inputs and output as well as identify constraints militating against poultry production in the study area. A total of 70 farmers were selected using the simple random sampling technique and data for the study were solicited with the use of structured questionnaire. Data were collected on such variables as socio-economic characteristics, input-output data etc, and analyzed using simple descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The linear production function was chosen as the lead equation. Findings show that majority (42%) of the respondents fall within the age range of 31-40 years, which implies that the operators of the business are able- bodied people who can cope with the tasking demands of the business. On the average, the highest category of income had an annual income of N20,000 and above . This means Ni ,666.70k/month which falls below the minimum wage which is a set back in maximization of production potentials. It also shows that more than 80% of the farmers had one form of education or the other. The major constraints identified in poultry production in decreasing magnitude of importance include disease incidence (84%),inadequate capital (71 %), high cost of inputs(67%) and poor housing (38%). The study recommends that farmers in the area should form cooperatives so that they will be able to be guaranteed to obtain loans/credit to purchase inputs such as feed and poultry equipment to enhance their production potentials.

 TABLES OF CONTENTS

Title Page

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement iv

Table of Contents v —vi

List of Tables vii

Abstract viii

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background Information 1-4

1.2 Statement of the Problem 5-6

1.3 Objectives of the Study .6

1.4 Significance for the study 7

1.5 Test of Hypothesis 7

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LIITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 The Importance of Poultry as it Rtes to Protein

Requirement in our Food Intake...., 8-10

2.2 Poultry Production Levels Available inEket local

Government Area 10-15

2.3 Problems Militating Against Poultry Production

in Eket Local Government Area 15-19

2,4 Prospect of Poultry Development in Eket Local

Government Area 19-21

CHAEPTER THREE

3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

 

3.1 Study Area 22

3.2 Sampling Procedure 23

3.3 Data Collection Instrument 23

3.4 Data Analysis / Analytical Technique 23

3.5 Model Specification 24-25

3.6 Limitations of the Study 25

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Socio-economic Characteristics of the

Respondents 26-31

4.1.1 Age of Poultry Farmers 26

4.1.2 Sex of Poultry Farmers .27

4.1.3 Marital Status of Poultry Farmers 27-28

4.1.4 Number of Children of Poultry Farmers .28

4.1.5 Level of Education of Poultry Farmers 28-29

4.1.6 Level of income of Poultry farmers 29-30

4.1.7 Other Occupation of Poultry Farmers ..30-31

4.1.8 Location of the Farms ..31

4.2 Challenges Facing poultry Farmers in Eket

Local Government Area of Akwa ibom State 31-33

4.3 Relationship Between Production Inputs and output .34-36

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 SUMARY, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION

5.1 Summary 37-38

5.2 Recommendation 38-39

5.3 Conclusion 39-40

References 41-44

Appendices