Özet:

Commercial smallholder egg production systems in Greater Port Harcourt City were assessed for problems and opportunities to intervene. Desk study, survey of 94 farmers using semi-structured questionnaires and focus group discussion with eight farmers were carried out. Commercial smallholder farmers with maximum of 2,500 layers were purposively sampled. Subjects were selected using snowballing sampling technique. Three local government areas (Obio-Akpor, Oyigbo and Etche) of the eight in Greater Port Harcourt City were surveyed. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics in Statistical Package for Social Sciences while matrices were used to analyze focus group discussion data. Results show low participation of youths in commercial smallholder egg production. All farmers attained some level of education. Majority (50%) had Bachelor’s degrees, hence, potential for innovation adoption. Farmers were motivated by self-employment (68%) and extra income (32%) to produce eggs. Average flock size (1100) was low and inadequate to meet egg demand. Farms were mainly (91%) self-financed, thus confirming weak support for farmers by banks and government. No farm activity was automated except watering (21%). Though all farms use some form of electricity, most (70%) depended on electricity generators, which increased production costs. Majority (94%) of farmers use commercial compound feed. Most (59%) bought their feed through middlemen while others (41%) buy direct from feed manufacturing companies to gain 15% margin. Similarly, 62% bought day-old-chicks through day-old-chicks distributors while 38% procure direct from hatcheries to gain 21% margin. To improve profits, farmers should form egg producers’ cooperatives to enhance bulk input purchases, and reduce costs.

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