SHEEP AND GOAT FARMING IN IMO STATE SOUTH EAST NIGERIA: A TRADITIONAL VOCATION AT THE VERGE OF EXTINCTION?

Abstract

This study investigated the current state of sheep and goat farming amongst households and possible options for economic improvement. Structured questionnaires were distributed to farmers randomly selected from three Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Imo state for a focus group interview. The results revealed significant reduction in sheep and goat farming amongst the households across four generations. Lack of interest due to poor policy framework, low productivity of existing breeds,
difficulty in feed supply and high cost of breeding stock was identified as constraints while older people are more directly involved in sheep and goat farming than youths. 59.6% of the farmers were females, and 31-50% of the farmers were between the ages of 31 and 50 years. Farming was observed to be the most common occupation amongst the households while trading was the next occupation. Results also showed that 73% of the total families had a history of sheep and goat keeping. It was also observed that 33.7% of households were involved in poultry enterprise and 25.3% involved in fish farming as an enterprise. Only 4.8% engaged in sheep and goat farming. Results obtained also revealed that 48.3% of the identified sheep and goat farmers kept breeds of sheep and goat from northern Nigeria 34% of respondents believe that access to grants and credit
facilities, 25 % believe provision of land in urban areas, while 21% think improvement in small ruminant feed technology, would improve production. If this current situation is to be reversed, adequate incentives such as grants and a revival of the moribund extension services should be provided for sheep and goat farmers combined with new technologies given the high literacy rate
within the area to improve input and output respectively.