Abstract:
The study of economic coordination in chicken production targets to a wide continuum of
coordination activities in poultry subsector in Kibaha District. It also aims to delineate
similarities and differences between the two chicken breeds (local and exotic). The
specific objectives include mapping of the two value chains, identifying governance
structures in the value chains, assessing of potentials of different actors categories and also
determining factors influencing participation in the selected chicken subsector. Data were
collected from 90 households rearing chickens in the District; Descriptive analysis was
done using comparative statistics, means and frequencies. Further Logit regression model
was used to establish factors necessitating farmers to participate in chicken production.
Although households participated well in chicken keeping, they lack formal coordination
both within and between actors in the Kibaha District. Data analysis has shown that, few
exotic chicken keepers are having verbal contracts with other marketing agents. Few local
chicken keepers have membership to producer groups established by wards‟ agricultural
and livestock officers, but no economic benefits were reported. None of the exotic chicken
keeper was organised in groups. Meanwhile, economic benefits of various actors on
linkages and roles were mapped. Gross margins for respective keepers and traders used to
compare profit between actors. Local chicken have a very long chain compared to exotic
chickens before they reached final end. Aggregators, retailers, and wholesalers have great
roles in chicken transactions in the market. From the Logit model factors that drove
keepers‟ participation decisions were; years of schooling (education level), family size,
and experience in poultry keeping
