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

Abstract

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 varied between administrative areas (p = 0.025) and occupation of the respondent (p = 0.040). Respondents describing animal production as their main occupation tended to have greater reliance on chicken sales for their income. Consideration is given to estimating the offtake from the flock and the financial contribution to the household.

Eggs: the uncracked potential for improving maternal and young child nutrition among the world's poor

“…Among poor households in Africa, the low-input scavenging chicken system, before improvements, may provide 10-35% of the woman's income. [114][115][116] The income from poultry is often one of the few significant sources of income for women and is particularly important for covering expenses such as household emergencies, a health clinic visit for a sick child, the patching of a roof, or school fees. 95,115 Income from eggs is also used to purchase less expensive foods such as maize and cooking oil or other necessities like charcoal.…”

“…[114][115][116] The income from poultry is often one of the few significant sources of income for women and is particularly important for covering expenses such as household emergencies, a health clinic visit for a sick child, the patching of a roof, or school fees. 95,115 Income from eggs is also used to purchase less expensive foods such as maize and cooking oil or other necessities like charcoal. 95,115,117 Increasing egg production as a livelihood strategy: a first step out of poverty Improving household scavenging poultry production is a practical and effective first step in alleviating rural poverty.…”

“…95,115 Income from eggs is also used to purchase less expensive foods such as maize and cooking oil or other necessities like charcoal. 95,115,117 Increasing egg production as a livelihood strategy: a first step out of poverty Improving household scavenging poultry production is a practical and effective first step in alleviating rural poverty. 111,118 Poultry is the most common animal owned by the rural poor across Africa.…”

Genetic diversity of Forest and Savannah chicken populations of Ghana as estimated by microsatellite markers

“…In Ghana, local chickens are kept for meat, eggs, socio‐cultural purposes especially in rural communities, and sold for emergency cash needs (Aboe et al. 2006; Aning 2006; Naazie et al.…”

“…In Ghana, local chickens are kept for meat, eggs, sociocultural purposes especially in rural communities, and sold for emergency cash needs (Aboe et al 2006;Aning 2006;Naazie et al 2007). They are raised mainly as backyard or scavenging poultry, thus constituting a randomly mating unselected population that is considered a huge treasure of variable genotypes (Yeasmin et al 2003).…”