Thesis Abstract

Abstract
The poultry industry plays a significant role in the economic development of many regions, including Orhionmwon Local Government Area in Edo State, Nigeria. This study focuses on examining the problems and prospects of poultry marketing and production in Orhionmwon LGA. The research utilized a mixed-methods approach to gather data from both primary and secondary sources. The findings reveal several challenges faced by poultry farmers and marketers in the area, including high production costs, inadequate access to credit facilities, poor infrastructure, and limited market outlets. These obstacles hinder the growth and profitability of poultry businesses in the region. Additionally, issues such as disease outbreaks, lack of technical knowledge, and inconsistent government policies further exacerbate the challenges faced by stakeholders in the poultry industry. Despite these challenges, the study also identifies various prospects for the poultry sector in Orhionmwon LGA. These include the growing demand for poultry products, advancements in technology for improved production efficiency, potential for value addition in poultry processing, and opportunities for exportation. By addressing the existing challenges and capitalizing on these prospects, poultry farmers and marketers in Orhionmwon LGA can enhance their competitiveness and contribute significantly to the local economy. The research recommends several strategies to improve poultry marketing and production in the area. These include providing training and extension services to farmers, establishing cooperative societies to facilitate access to credit and inputs, investing in infrastructure development, and creating enabling policies to support the growth of the poultry industry. Moreover, enhancing collaboration between government agencies, research institutions, and private sector stakeholders is crucial for promoting sustainable development in the poultry sector. Overall, this study sheds light on the complexities of poultry marketing and production in Orhionmwon LGA, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities that exist in the sector. By implementing the suggested strategies and fostering a conducive business environment, stakeholders can overcome existing obstacles and leverage the prospects for growth and sustainability in the poultry industry.

Thesis Overview

NTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Poultry
refers to all domesticated birds kept for meat and eggs production. Eggs and
poultry meat are produced primarily for food consumption. Eggs are also used in
various food industries like the manufacturing of confectionary (i.e. sweet
chocolate cakes etc.). They are also used for the manufacturing of cosmetics of
infection diseases while the feathers may be used for making pillows and
mattresses. Some species of poultry are suitable for genetic nutritional and
physiological studies because of their relatively low cost of maintenance,
proliferation (a rapid growth or increase in numbers) and short generation
intervals. In the earlier time, the keeping of poultry were not being
considered as a major occupation; that is birds were kept to obtain some money
and in most cases for pleasure and pastime cock fighting. In some areas or
communities, fowls are still used in the past as a means of knowing what times
of day, most especially the cock (i.e. male fowl).

Poultry
farming started those days when our local farmers used the old and extensive
method in keeping fowls, goats, sheep, pig and other related domestic animals
proved that the poultry section was a profitable venture too. Gradually,
poultry keeping developed into a commercial enterprise involving thousands of
birds, large poultry units, replace small ones while more efficient strains of
birds, balanced feeds, intensive housing and better poultry equipment come into
use. All these industrialized system of keeping poultry birds in a recent
development in Edo state as in most humid tropical countries. The effect of
some environmental factors like the industries are less capitalized, consists
of smaller units and depend more on manual labour. These lead to less
production of the birds or the birds perform at a lower level. Due to this
account, the cost of poultry production is higher. All these factors contribute
to the lower consumption of poultry production in the tropical areas like Edo
state. For example, the recent estimate of eggs consumption in Nigeria was far
low when compared with the European countries and the United States. Moreover,
the industries in the tropical areas are not as diversified as in the
temperate. In the tropics, the emphasis is on egg production and only one
species of poultry (the domestic fowl) is used. Whereas economic and
nutritional benefits can be derived from keeping other species, for example
some strains of ducks are fast growing, resistance to many diseases of the
domestic fowl and can produce as many as 300 eggs per annum. These can be used
to increase the consumption of poultry products in the tropics.

However,
throughout the world, the domestic birds are unique for its popularity in
producing both poultry meat and eggs while the other species are kept primarily
for meat. In order for poultry birds to produce efficiently, there is need to
raise them under a conducive environment. We have various ways of rearing birds
like the industrialized system of rearing birds.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS

Poultry,
which is of economic importance to the entire members of the society because it
provides meat and eggs for consumption. The bones are being used as bone meals
to farm animals. It is therefore important that these products get to the final
consumer at the place and time they are needed. This is only possible when the
marketing system is efficient. This study is therefore concerned with the
appraisal of the problems of marketing poultry products in Orhionmwon Local
Government Area.

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The
study is designed to achieve the following objectives:

1. To
identify the type of poultry products sold in Orhionmwon Local Government area.

2. To
identify the problems affecting the marketing of poultry products.

3. To
find out how best the problems of marketing poultry products can be solved.

4. To
make recommendations based on finding of
the study.

RESEARCH QUESTION

To assist in carrying out appraisal into
the problems of marketing poultry products in Orhionmwon Local Government area,
some research questions will be useful and these include:

i)          
How does extension system of rearing
poultry affects its product?

ii)        
What is the importance of transportation in
the marketing of poultry products?

iii)      
Which part of poultry products do you sell
most daily?

iv)      
Why are poultry products difficult in
market?

v)        
What way so you think will help in the
marketing of poultry products?

SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

The need for appraisal of this type is to
know the problems facing the marketing of poultry products in Orhionmwon Local
Government area in Edo state. it is assumed that at the end farmers and the
consumers within the territory in which the appraisal was carried out will
benefit from the findings of the study. During the appraisal, some farmers were
questioned and they responded actively and also ask various question s, which
help them to rear their livestock very well. Therefore, this study will help
the farmer within Orhionmwon local government area to known the various system
of rearing birds in other to keep them away from infection diseases. It will
also help them to known the best the best marketing channel to sell their
products. Also this study will help the consumers in that same area to known
the most hygienic place to purchase their meat and other domestic products
from.

SCOPE OF STUDY

In this scope, poultry products in Orhionmwon
local government area will be carefully examined. This study will pay
particular attention to factors affecting the marketing of poultry products in Orhionmwon.
It will also appraise some selected types of poultry products and causes of
their low marketing and make recommendation that will enhance more distribution
in Orhionmwon local government area.

LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

During the study at the different stages of
collecting information from the poultry farmers in Orhionmwon, several problems
were encountered by the researcher prominent amongst them is the poultry farmer
due to the suspension of two research intention to publicize their farm.
Transportation was also a problem because the appraisal was carried out during
the time of fuel scarcity, which then leads to high cost of transportation.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Production:
The processes and methods employed to transform tangible input into goods.

Marketing:
The action or business of promoting and selling products.

Prospect:
The like hood of success.

Problem:
A matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or harmful and needing to be death
with and overcome.