Socio-economic impact of free range vaccinated against newcastle disease in mtwara rural district, mtwara region

Abstract

Poultry industry is an important sector with substantial contribution to the community, nation economy and social welfare. Newcastle disease (ND) is the main constraint for village chicken production in Tanzania, and chicken vaccination is the only effective way to control ND. This study was carried out to evaluate ND vaccination project. The objective of the study was to assess the socio-economic impact of ND vaccination project to communities that keep Free Range Local Chicken (FRLC) at three villages in Mtwara Region. Specifically, the study assessed socio-economies contribution of FRLC to household, examined effects of the project interventions on the level of knowledge, attitude and practices that poultry keepers pose for enhancing the productivity of FRLC, examined gender issues in implementation of ND vaccination project and its sustainability. Focus group discussions (FGD) and a structured questionnaire were used to collect data. A total of 210 households which were in the project were randomly sampled the heads were subjected to the questionnaire. The study used descriptive statistical and inferential methods to analyze data. This was accomplished by Statistical Package for Social Science’s (SPSS version 13.0). Result from the study revealed a statistical lower (P<0.05) significant association between number of FRLC kept before the project and after the project. In addition, the study revealed statistical significance of project interventions (P<0.05) on management of FRLC which means there was increase in number of FRLC. All respondents reported FRLC to be an income supplementing activity to the household. Also the study revealed FRLC rearing was mainly a female domain (61%), though men were the decision makers on the income earned. In the study area decision on the household properties held strongly with genderiii relationship in the household. The study recommends that the farmer’s socio- economic status, incentives like credit facilitation, market access and group formation should be considered in implementation of interventions for improving FRLC.