ANALYSIS OF FARM RECORD KEEPING AMONG SMALL-SCALE POULTRY FARMERS IN ADAVI AND OKENE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF KOGI STATES, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study assessed farm record keeping among small-scale poultry farmers in Adavi and Okene Local Government Areas of Kogi State, Nigeria. Eighty (80) small-scale poultry farmers were randomly selected for the study. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and poison regression model. Results revealed most of the farmers aged between 26 – 35 years, majority (70.0%) had household size of less than six people and most had poultry rearing experience of 6 – 10 years and majority (81.2%) had tertiary education. Results also revealed production, financial and labour records were most kept farm records by the farmers which ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd, respectively. More so, 50.0% of the farmers kept farm records on daily basis. Perceived benefits of farm records by the farmers were; assist farmers to know if a profit is made or not (ẋ = 3.92) and help to recall when farm operation started (ẋ = 3.76). The factors that significantly influenced record keeping include age and sex (p<0.10), experience (p<0.01), educational level (p<0.05), birds in stock (p<0.01) and extension contact (p<0.10). Severe constraints faced by the farmers includes inadequate knowledge of comprehensive record keeping (ẋ = 2.30) and lack of time for record keeping (ẋ = 2.25). The study recommended that poultry farmers in the study area should be given adequate training on how to keep comprehensive farm record as well as sensitized on the benefits of farm records.