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ASSESSMENT OF VALUE CHAIN INFORMATION SOURCES IN PIG PRODUCTION

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1      Background of the Study

One of the major challenges facing Nigeria is satisfaction of the ever-increasing demand for protein. Most Nigerian diets are deficient in animal protein. FAO (2010) recommends that the minimum intake of protein by an average person should be 65g per day; of this, 36g (that is, 40%) should come from animal sources. However, Nigeria is presently unable to meet this requirement. At present, the animal protein consumption in Nigeria is 15g per person per day which is a far cry from the FAO recommendation. Consequently, widespread hunger, poor and stunted growth as well as increase in spread of diseases are evident in the country (Tijjani, Tijani, Tijjani and Sadiq, 2012).  This shortage of animal protein consumption is partly due to the high cost of conventional sources of meat like cattle, swine, goat, sheep and poultry (Tewe, 1999). It is therefore necessary to search for cheaper alternative source of meat to meet the ever-increasing demand for animal protein. This quest can only be met by “short-cycled” animals such as rabbits, poultry and swine. Swine have been described as one of the most prolific and fast-growing livestock that can convert food waste to valuable products. They excel above other read met animals such as cattle, sheep and goat in converting feed to flesh.

Ekarius (2008) defines swine as a farm animal with hoofed feet, short prickly hair and along snout used for digging and is the oldest domesticated animal. It is omnivores and is a highly social and intelligent animal. It has the potential to be highly prolific, because it is capable of producing many litters after a relatively short gestation period.

The productivity in terms of yield of meat per ton of live weight of breeding females per year is in the region of six times that of cattle. Domesticated swine is raised commercially for meat (generally called pork, ham, gammon or bacon) as well as for leather. A sow stays pregnant for an average of 114 days (three months, three weeks and three days). A growing swine of improved breeds that is managed and well fed from weaning to slaughter can reach a weight of 90kg in 150 days with good life weight growth pattern (Ekarius 2008). The profitability of swine production is vital to the national economy in the case of generating employment opportunity, additional income for households and improving the nutritional level of the people. MOF (2012) report show that about 2.58 percent of GDP in Nigeria came from animal farming during 2010/11 financial year. In addition, swine is an excellent source of protein and nutrients which are essential for health and growth of the human body.  In addition, the profitability of swine production include: swine have high fecundity, high feed conversion efficiency early maturity, short generation interval (gestation period 114 days) and relatively small space requirement, they are multipurpose animals providing about 40% of meat in the world market, cooking fats and bristles (Babatunde and Fetuga, 2000). Also, swine have higher survival rate especially under the scarcity of inputs. Swine is equally important for agro-based industries like feed mills for provision of bone and blood meal respectively, which are a good source of calcium in animal nutrition. In addition, swine manure is an excellent fertilizer for enriching poor soils for crop production. Its skin is also useful for light leather production. It is produced under a variety of production systems ranging from simple backyard piggery, swine living on garbage belt`s to family operated farms or large-scale integrated swine industries with sophisticated bio-safety measures (Babatunde and Fetuga, 2000). Swine production have been recommended as a good alternative source of cheap, high quality animal protein that suits escalating human population. They have relatively low cost of production and their growth rate is fast (Osaro, 2005). They also have high production potential and high carcass yield. They adapt easily to environmental conditions. Swine production has therefore been advocated as a short-term measure towards alleviating the animal protein and caloric deficit, especially where there are no religious edicts preventing their production and consumption.  Swine production is unique in that it offers the highest turnover rate and the quickest returns to investment outlay in livestock enterprises (Sanni and Ogundipe, 2005). Funds invested in swine production is the highest when compared with ruminants and other monogastric animals (Braenkaert, Gavirial, Jallade & Seiders, 2000) but the cheapest, commonest and the best source of animal protein.

1.2       Statement of the Problem

Fifty percent (50%) of the new born babies especially in the rural areas have low birth weight while more than 90 percent of the children (aged <5years), suffer from mild to severe forms of malnutrition (Ojo, 2002). The cheapest, commonest and the best source of animal protein in the area is swine meat. But little or no research work has been done on swine production. Few researchers like Ironkwe and Amefale (2008) carried out a research work on swine production and Osondu, Ijoema, Anyiro and Obike (2014) did work on swine production, but they fail to address the profitability of swine production.

1.3       Objectives of the Study

The main objective of this study is to assess value chain information sources in pig production. Specific objectives include:

i. To identify the major socio-economic characteristics of swine farmers.

ii. To determine the cost return and profitability ratio of swine production.

iii. To identify the major constraints faced by swine farmer.

1.4       Research Questions

i. What are the major socio-economic characteristics of swine farmers?

ii. What are the cost return and profitability ratio of swine production?

iii. What are the major constraints faced by swine farmers?

1.5       Research Hypotheses

Hypothesis I

H0: There is no significant impact of the socio-economic characteristics of swine farmers.

Hi: There is a significant impact of socio-economic characteristics of swine farmers.

Hypothesis II

H0: There is no significant relationship between cost return and profitability ratio of swine production.

Hi: There is a significant relationship between cost return and profitability ratio of swine production.

Hypothesis III

H0: There is no significant relationship between the constraints faced by swine farmers and swine production.

Hi: There is a significant relationship between the constraints faced by swine farmers and swine production. 

1.6       Significance of the Study

The findings of this research study will benefit the following group of people: Unemployed youth; swine farmers; agricultural Extension agents; agricultural education students and teachers; Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Education; agricultural economic analysts; researchers and research institutes; universities and other institutions of learning; curriculum planners and National Directorate of Employment and general public. The findings of this research will be useful to unemployed youth, as it will create awareness on the benefits of swine production which can serve as a means of livelihood for youth for the immense profitability in swine production and as career occupation. It will also provide blueprint for extension agents to disseminate information to the livestock farmers on profitability of swine farming which will arouse their interest in swine production. Agricultural economic analysts will also benefit from the study as a literature source to plan their paper presentation and conferences and effectively teach animal scientists and farmers. Curriculum planners also will benefit from the findings of this research work as they plan activities that will serve as total learning experiences for students and teachers. The information obtained can be made available to swine farmers and others through workshops, seminars, conferences, publications and training manuals for proper utilization. The findings of this study will provide a guide for other farmers and investors who will love to invest on production of swine for proper establishment and profitability. The results of this study on cost benefit profitability will provide information and a guide which will help other swine farmers and investors to apply improved swine production management in their various farms with the assistance of agricultural extension agents. The information obtained by agricultural extension agents from the findings of this study on the constraints of swine production technologies, swine productivity constraints and strategies for improving physical productivity and profitability of swine farms will help them map out improvement strategies, design extension training packages and guidelines for training and retraining of other swine farmers and prospective investors on how to embark on profitable swine production.

1.7       Limitations of the study

The demanding schedule of respondents made it very difficult getting the respondents to participate in the survey. As a result, retrieving copies of questionnaires in timely fashion was very challenging. Also, the researcher is a student and therefore has limited time as well as resources in covering extensive literature available in conducting this research. Information provided by the researcher may not hold true for all research under this study but is restricted to the selected respondents used as a study in this research especially in the locality where this study is being conducted. Finally, the researcher is restricted only to the evidence provided by the participants in the research and therefore cannot determine the reliability and accuracy of the information provided. Other limitations include:

Financial constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint: The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.