FACTORS AFFECTING ADOPTION OF EXOTIC POULTRY BREEDS IN SMALLHOLDER PRODUCERS IN NORTH WESTERN ZONE OF TIGRAY, ETHIOPIA

To improve the productivity of poultry thereby increase farmers’ and national income, adoption of exotic poultry breeds is one of the alternatives that are undertaken in different parts of the country. However, the adoption and dissemination of these breeds are constrained by different factors. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess farmers’ perceptions towards the benefits and constraints of rearing exotic poultry, assess the contribution of exotic poultry breeds to the smallholder producers’ income and dietary diversity and identify the determinants of adoption of exotic poultry breeds in Tselemti and Tahtay Koraro Woredas, in North Western Zone of Tigray Region. A multi-stage random sampling technique was employed to select the sample respondents for the study. Sample respondents were categorized into adopters and non-adopters of exotic poultry breeds. Based on probability proportional to size 110 adopters and 154 non-adopters were identified out of 264 total sample respondents in the two Woredas. The primary data were collected through personal interview and focus group discussion using semi-structured interview schedule and checklist, respectively. The study employed analytical strategies such as percentage, frequency, mean and standard deviations, and inferential statistics such as t-test and χ2 test to see the mean difference between adopters and non-adopters. Moreover, binary logistic regression model was employed to identify the determinants of adoption of exotic poultry. Based on their perception farmers remarked rearing of exotic poultry is beneficial due to their higher egg production, fast growing chicken and higher selling price of egg, and they are constrained by susceptibility to diseases and predators, unaffordable cost of chicks, needs more husbandry and needs more feeds as compared to the local poultry breeds. Besides, adopters were better in diversifying their dietary, consuming more eggs, and gain better income from poultry than non-adopters. The average annual income of chicken were 2051.52 and 939.12 Birr for adopters and non- adopters, respectively. An average of 4.49 and 3.51 food group items was consumed by adopters and non-adopters, respectively by 24 hours recall during before a survey day. On the other hand, the result from the logit model revealed that out of the total 13 variables, eight variables, namely; sex, educational status, family size, training, access to exotic poultry breed, extension contact, total livestock holding and distance to market were statistically significant in influencing the adoption decision of exotic poultry breeds at different levels of significance. Therefore, these factors which influenced the adoption decision of exotic poultry breeds should be considered and receive due. Besides, the farmers should be aware of the benefits of using exotic poultry breeds. Moreover, focus should be given on the constraints such as diseases, predators, lack of vaccination services and unaffordable cost of chicks which are identified by the respondents in using the exotic poultry breeds so as to enhance adoption of exotic poultry breeds in a sustainable way. Furthermore, further research study should be conducted aimed at identifying the common poultry diseases and predators in the study area