Free-range village chickens on the Accra Plains, Ghana: Their contribution to households

Trop Anim Health Prod (2006) 38:223234

DOI 10.1007/s11250-006-4357-9ORIGINAL ARTICLEFree-range village chickens on the Accra Plains, Ghana:

Their contribution to householdsP.A.T. Aboe K. Boa-Amponsem S.A. Okantah

P.T. Dorward M.J. BryantSpringer 2006Abstract A cross-sectional survey investigating the

contribution of free-range village chickens to household economies was carried out in four administrative districts within 60 km of Accra. Answers were

provided by 101 men and 99 women. Nearly all respondents claimed to keep chickens for meat, with a

far smaller percentage claiming to keep them for egg

production. Over 80% of respondents kept chickens to

supplement their incomes. The proportion of the flock

eaten varied between administrative areas ( p = 0.009

and p = 0.027), although this was possibly a consequence of differences in consumption patterns between

occupation of the respondent, land area cultivated and

flock size. The proportion of chickens sold varied as

a result of differences in flock size ( p = 0.013), the

proportion sold increasing with number of birds in

the flock. Respondents generally agreed that chickens

could be sold without difficulty. A majority of chicken

sales were from the farm gate, directly to consumers

or traders. Sales were on demand or when the owner

needed money. Money from the sale was kept by the

owner of the chicken and the money was spent on personal needs. The proportion of the flock sold variedAccepted: 21 October 2005CIntroductionKitalyi (1998) describes poultry production in Africa

as being based on free-range indigenous birds owned

by most rural households. These birds, she says, produce over 70% of poultry products and 20% of animal protein intake. Studies published in recent years

from a number of African countries have confirmed the

contribution of chickens to household diets (Mopate

and Loney, 1999; Mwalusanya et al., 2001; Missohou

et al., 2002). Such studies also draw attention to the

importance of chicken sales as sources of revenue

(Kondombo et al., 2003) and their significance in culture and ritual (Tadelle and Ogle, 2001). However,

most authorities describe free-range village systems ofSpringerP.A.T Aboe K. Boa-Amponsem S.A. Okantah

Animal Research Institute, Achimota, GhanaP.T. Dorward M.J. Bryant ([envelopeback])

Department of Agriculture, School of Agriculture, Policy

and Development, The University of Reading, UK

e-mail: [email protected]

between administrative areas ( p = 0.025) and occupation of the respondent...