Socio-Economic Importance Of Local Chicken Production In Peri-Urban Areas Of Kinondoni District, Tanzania

ABSTRACT

Local Chicken (LC) keeping is an important activity in improving socio-economics of the peri-urban communities in Tanzania. Despite the LC has socio-economic importance, its information is in adequately available. This study assessed the socio- economic importance of LCs production in peri-urban areas of Kinondoni District. The study specifically determined the contribution of local chicken production to peri-urban household’s income, examined the process of LC management from day old chick to the market time, examined constraints facing LC keeping and determined factors influencing income through LC keeping. The study employed a cross-sectional research design and a purposive sampling technique was used to select a sample of 90 households which were keeping LCs. Primary data were collected using a household questionnaire survey, Focus Group Discussion (FGDs) and Key Informant interview (KI) methods. The data from the questionnaire were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Descriptive statistics namely frequencies, percentage and mean were computed. A multiple linear regression was used to determine contribution of local chicken to household income. The data collected using (FGD) and (KI) were analysed using content analysis method. The study findings found that, peri-urban households earned a good amount of income from sales of LC and its products.LC income supported on HH to afford some basic needs such as school fees, food and health services bills. Both females and males jointly owned LC at 50%, female owned LC for about 37% while males accounted for 13.3%. About 96% of households used LC as a gift and ritual sacrifice while traditional healings accounted for 33.3%. About 37% of HHs reported to use cock’s alarm for detecting time. Education level, initial capital, experience of LC keeping, rearing systems, accessibility to extension services and constraints were significantly influencing income and production of the local chicken (p