Livestock Farming for Employment Generation in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria

Aims: The aims of the study determined the current socio-economic characteristics of livestock farmers, identified the types of livestocks reared in the area, identified the sources of extension information to livestock farmers, ascertained the kind of technologies provided by extension service to livestock farmers, analyzed the benefits of extension services to the farmers and determined the constraints to livestock farming in the area.

Study Design: A survey system which was made up of the random sampling technique was adopted in selecting the respondents for the study. Data were elicited with the questionnaire which was ethically considered appropriate for the literate respondents.

Place and Duration of the Study: The place of this study was Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Survey for the study was conducted between the 10th of February, to 30th of June, 2010.

Methodology: The sample size of the study was 60 livestock farmers who served as the respondents to the study. Data were obtained with both the questionnaire for the literate respondents and interview schedule for illiterate respondents in the study area. The instruments were administered by an enumerator who was trained for this purpose. Methods of data analyses used for the study were frequency, percentage, and analysis of variance.

Results: Result shows that the average age of livestock farmers was 35.5 years indicating they are young and active, meaning that livestock farming can be used to provide employment for unemployed youths in the area. Poultry farming was more (65%) than other stocks, meaning that investment in poultry farming will provide more employment than other livestock sectors. Simple pen sanitation with 28.3% was the technology of highest delivery to livestock farmers. The main source of agricultural information to the farmers were neighbours and friends with 45%. The problems of pests and diseases with 96.7% and poor markets for sale of livestock output with 85% were the main constraints to livestock farming.

Conclusion: The study concludes that livestock farming is useful in employment generation in the study area. For livestock farming to generate more employment in the area, development agencies should provide enough and affordable livestock drugs and vaccines and market for the sale of livestock outputs in the area.