MAJOR CONSTRAINTS FACED BY POULTRY FARMERS DURING CORONAVIRUS  (COVID–19) PANDEMIC IN KANO NORTH SENATORIAL DISTRICTS IN 2020

A. Y.  Abdullahi; S.  Munnir; M. H.  Zango; M.  Nasir; A. G.  Khaleel; Y. U.  Dan Abba; A. I. Danzabuwa; A.  Abubakar

doi:10.51791/njap.vi.5307

Authors

A. Y. Abdullahi Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano State
S. Munnir Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano State
M. H. Zango Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano State
M. Nasir Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano State
A. G. Khaleel Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano State
Y. U. Dan Abba Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano State
A. I. Danzabuwa Federal University Dutsin-ma, Katsina
A. Abubakar Bayero University Kano, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.5307

Keywords:

Coronavirus, Pandemic, Poultry farmers, Restriction, Feed cost

Abstract

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been considered a global challenge to sustainability and agricultural production. Due to restrictions on the movement of commodities and people, as well as the cost of poultry products, this study aimed to assess the effect of COVID-19 on poultry farmers in Northern districts of Kano State and to evaluate the constraints encountered by them. A multi-stage and random sampling techniques were used to engage one hundred and twenty (120) respondents for the study. It involved the selection of the Kano North Senatorial zone, followed by the purposive selection of six local governments from the zone. While five wards were randomly selected from each local government and twenty (20) questionnaires were distributed to poultry farmers at random and recovered. Data on socio-economic variables were collected, descriptive statistics were applied using Microsoft Excel (version 2019), and farmers’ perception was measured using five–points Likert scale. The results revealed that majority of the respondents were youths, with an average age of 30 years, who were highly enthusiastic about poultry farming. About 51.3% were married. Poultry Farmers (85%) in the study area had been affected by COVID–19. The main challenges faced include high poultry feed costs with mean score of (4.73), transportation restrictions (4.46), logistic disruptions (4.34), lack of access to poultry feed (4.33), labor shortages (4.05) and an increase in poultry feed ingredients (4.01). The most serious constraint was the high cost of feed, while inadequate poultry farming (3.43) appeared not a constraint. It is concluded that COVID–19 pandemic has touched the livelihood of the poultry farmers by causing many problems, losses and making their business to downfall and rendering many of them to became unemployed.