A Descriptive Study of the Characteristics and Systems of Geese Production in Sohag Governorate

Abstract

The objective of this study was to describe the existing geese production systems. Identify strengths (S), weaknesses (W), opportunities (O), and threats (T) of geese production system in rural area. A cross sectional and longitudinal data collection was performed in four districts; in each district three villages were chosen. The total number of sample was 164 geese owners. Using random sampling method, data was collected using semi-structured questionnaire and interview. The main production system of geese production is the family system. According to the housing style of geese, it involves three subsystems: 1) Non-mixed 2) semi-mixed 3) mixed. The majority of householders (65.71%, 77.4 % and 79.10 %) were illiterates within the age group of 31-59 years (middle aged group). The flock size significantly varied being 9.83 ± 1.16 in the non-mixed, 5.58 ± .87 in the semi-mixed and 8.76± .84 for the mixed subsystem. The monthly income and the experience level have a positive impact on the flock size. The main feed ingredient was green forage and leftovers, adding grains or commercial ration was on occasional basis and was linked with the financial ability of the householders. The most frequently given feed consisted mostly of green forages, leftovers and grain under the non-mixed (40.0%), semi-mixed (54.84 %), and mixed (44.78 %) subsystems. Disease occurrence was higher in the mixed (52.24%) and semi-mixed (41.94%) as compared to the non-mixed (28.57%) subsystem. The nonmixed subsystem exhibited the highest insignificantly hatchability percentage (63.42%) as compared to the semi-mixed (56.24 %) and mixed (60.60%) subsystems. Most of the respondents were practice candling under the non-mixed (74.29%), semi-mixed (62.90%), and mixed (65.67%) subsystems. The village market constitutes the biggest outlet for geese selling for the non-mixed (54.29%), semi-mixed (59.68%) and mixed (62.69%) subsystems. The foremost problems were the spread of diseases, the high prices of feed for the mixed and non-mixed subsystems respectively, while it was low productivity and high prices of feedstuffs for the non-mixed subsystem. Therefore, any improvements in these constraints; appropriate interventions on management, disease awareness and control; illiteracy eradication and training may lead to sustainable increase in geese productivity in the study area.

The Psychological State of Farmers in the Agricultural Cultivation of Food Crops during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Java, Indonesia

“…The data of this research was collected online with Google forms. Informal discussions were performed, in order to understand farmer's circumstances, practices and constraints (El Sheikh et al, 2017). Randomized face-to-face interviews were conducted by surveyors who interviewed farmers, who then entered the data into a Google form (Simha et al, 2017).…”