Constraints and opportunities in indigenous chicken production and marketing in Mashuru and Loitoktok divisions of Kajiado district

Abstract

Although Kenyan rangelands are best suited for extensive livestock production, recent trends in land subdivision coupled with increasing human population and influx of farming communities from neighbouring areas have made this production system untenable. This has led to increased land degradation and food insecurity. Indigenous chicken is an appropriate livestock for the rangelands when viewed in terms of its scavenging for most of its nutritional requirements and being hardy, well adapted to the rangeland conditions and surviving with minimal inputs and still producing. However, in spite of this potential, many households in the rangelands do not keep chicken. The hypothesis of this study is that increasing food and income through chicken production, the Maasai households will start keeping fewer cattle sheep and goats hence reducing the pressure on the rangelands. This baseline survey was conducted with the objective of identifying constraints and opportunities in chicken production in Mashuru and Loitoktok divisions of Kajiado District and by extension the Maasai community. Data analysis was done using Microsoft excel data management tools and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Predation was ranked the most important constraint in the District followed by diseases and pests. The opportunities identified include developing and promoting appropriate housing structures, strategies for scaring and/ or controlling predators and capacity building within the community on general management.