Assessing the productivity of indigenous chicken among small scale farmers in Mafubira ward, Jinja city.
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Date
2026
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Busitema University
Abstract
Indigenous chickens are widely kept by small-scale farmers under free-range and backyard production systems because of their adaptability to local environmental conditions and ability to survive under low-input production systems. Globally, poultry production contributes to household food security, income generation and nutrition. In Africa, indigenous chickens are important to smallholder livelihoods because they are well adapted to local conditions and require relatively low production inputs. In Uganda, indigenous chickens constitute over 85% of the national chicken flock and are predominantly kept by smallholder farmers under free-range systems. In Mafubira Ward, Jinja City, indigenous chickens are commonly kept by small-scale farmers as a source of food and income, but concerns about low and inconsistent productivity necessitated an assessment of their production performance. This study assessed the productivity of indigenous chickens among small-scale farmers in Mafubira Ward, Jinja City. Specifically, the study sought to characterize small-scale farmers keeping indigenous chickens, determine the productivity of indigenous chickens, and identify the challenges affecting their productivity. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used, involving 150 small-scale indigenous chicken farmers. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics The findings showed that most of respondents were female, with a mean age married had attained secondary education and identified farming as the main occupation. All respondents kept indigenous chickens, with most farmers keeping relatively small flocks. The majority used free range production systems and kept chicken for both meat and egg production. The average stocking flock was 34.14 birds per household (SD = 28.681), ranging from 4 to 135 birds, with 93.3% keeping fewer than 100 birds. Chickens attained first laying at a mean age of 8.88 months and produced an average of 15.60 eggs per hen per month. The major challenges affecting productivity were poultry diseases (96.7%), high feed costs (75.3%), predation (66.0%) and limited capital (46.7%). Limited capital was the most important challenge reported by 42.7% of farmers, while poor housing was least reported at 6.0%. The study concluded that indigenous chicken production is an important small-scale farming activity in Mafubira Ward, but productivity is constrained by low stocking levels and biological, management and economic challenges. The study recommended strengthening disease prevention and veterinary support, improving access to affordable feeds, and increasing farmers’ access to financial and technical support to enhance indigenous chicken productivity.
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Undergraduate research report
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Citation
Ndagire, H. (2026). Assessing the productivity of indigenous chicken among small scale farmers in Mafubira ward, Jinja city. [Unpublished undergraduate research report]. Busitema University.