Economic and Environmental Impact of Poultry Production in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the economic and environmental impact of poultry production in Ilorin, Kwara State. Primary data were used and a sample of 120 poultry farmers through a multistage sampling technique was drawn from the study. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis, OLS regression model and Likert-type scale. The results show that the enterprise incurred an average total variable cost of N135,450.0 and total revenue within the period was estimated to be N192,323.80 which was mainly generated from the sales of poultry birds. The gross margin was found to be N56,873.8 with N0.4199 can be obtained with a unit increase in the poultry production capacity. Thus, the broiler production is a profitable venture in the study area. The empirical finding based on the regression result indicate that, cost of labour, cost of chicks and marital status had positive coefficient and statistically significant in influencing the total revenue level. It means that any increase in their value will increase the revenue level. The result of vaccine/medication administered against diseases revealed that most of the poultry farmers uses Lasota vaccine (88%) against Newcastle disease, a combination of amprolium and coccimapro (27%) each for Coccidiosis, pox off (88%) for fowl pox disease, Gumboro vaccine (65%) for IBD gumboro and their sources of getting the medication/vaccines are majorly from Aromokeye agro vet and One step pharmacy. The analysis shows that among the various ways of waste management, the farmers uses the waste more for fertilizer (28%) followed by selling them (23%) while only (21%) of the farmers burn the waste (especially the dead birds) so as to prevent further spread of diseases on the farm. The empirical findings based on the environmental impact of poultry production reveals that waste generation is the major negative environmental impact of poultry production in the study area. Offensive odour also associated with poor waste management is ranked 2nd, diseases transmission, air pollution and water pollution are among the environmental impact of poultry production in the study area. Poor management system is perceived to be the major constraint, lack of security and government support ranked 2nd is seen as a problem.