Economics of Small Ruminants Husbandry and Marketing Among Small-Holder Farmers in Isialangwa North of Abia State.

The study provides empirical information on the economics of small ruminant husbandry production and marketing among small-holder farmers in Isiala Ngwa North LGA of Abia State. A multi-stage procedure involving purposive and random methods was used to collect data from 50 farmers using semi-structures questionnaire. The study employed descriptive statistics such as means, standard deviation and percentages to analyze the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers in the study area, types of small ruminants kept and the management system practiced by the small holder farmers, and constraints associated with small ruminant production and marketing. Farm budget analysis was also used to estimate the cost and return of the SR production while marketing margin and efficiency analyzed the marketing performance of the farmers. More so, Ordinary Least Square regression analysis was used to estimate determinants of net income of the farmers. The study showed the mean age of the farmers of 46.90 years, household size of about 5 persons, farming experiences of 7.76 years and volume of credit of N107, 577.64 with majorities being male (82.00%), married (92.00%), and produced for the market (72.00%). Half (50.00%) of the respondents are into goat production, followed by 46.00% that raise both goat and sheep, and 4.00% into sheep farming only. Most (84.00%) of the farmers practiced semi-intensive farming management system than intensive (14.00%) and extensive (2.00%). The results showed the total revenue and gross margin of ₦ 1, 257,778 and ₦ 716, 103.40 respectively with Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) of 2.10, indicating huge return on investment. The study estimated the marketing margin of 44.66% and marketing efficiency of 49.38%. Lack of technology /innovation (100.00%), inadequate infrastructure and seasonal fluctuation (98.00% each), inadequate policy support and institutional framework for small ruminant farming (96.00%), disease and pest management, lack of access to improved breeding stock, climate change effects and inadequate extension support (94.00% each) and limited access to capital (92.00%) were the major constraints militating against small ruminant production and marketing in the study area. The study also estimated the coefficients for household size and sex (10%), cost of feed and membership of cooperative society (5%), and level of education (1%) significant and positively related with the net income of small ruminant animal farmers in the study area. The study therefore recommends policies aimed at improvement of rural education which has the potential to improve productivity and economics of SR farmers. Education policies such as literacy and training programmes should also focused on the male farmers who are members of cooperative society.