The Adoption of Improved Technologies for Indigenous Chicken Keeping in Sumbawanga Municipality – Rukwa, Tanzania

Abstract

The study investigated the adoption of improved technologies among poultry farmers in Sumbawanga Municipality. Data was collected through interviews, focus group discussions, and documentary reviews. 110 poultry farmers were contacted, simple random was used to get chicken keepers, and purposive sampling was used to select key informants. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was used.  On demographic characteristics of respondents, the results revealed that the majority of chicken keepers were between 35-60 years, with females being the majority. Also, most of the respondents were single, implying that this group does not depend on their husbands for accessing necessary needs and therefore they are involved in chicken keeping to meet their needs. On the level of adoption of improved technologies, the majority were in low level they are practicing traditional methods, and more than 70% of respondents are keeping chicken in local ways. On examining the determinant factors that influence farmers to adopt improved technologies in keeping indigenous chicken, binary logistic linear regression was used for analysis, the following factors were obtained, Educational Level (p = 0.002): indicates a strong relationship between education and technology adoption. This implies that respondents with at least secondary education are more likely to adopt improved technologies than those with lower educational levels. Another factor is capital (p = 0.01): indicating access to financial resources determines the decision of whether to adopt or not to adopt improved technologies. This implies farmers with much capital are more capable of adopting new technologies likely due to affordability and risk management.   Another factor was extension services (p = 0.042): This implies that access to extension services (training, demonstrations, and technical advice) positively influences the adoption of improved technologies. Another factor was the size of the flock (p = 0.032): which implies that farmers with larger flock sizes are more inclined to adopt new technologies, possibly to manage operations more efficiently or increase productivity. The study recommends the following, first community should be encouraged to make sure that their children get secondary education, and above this will increase chances of them to adopt improved technologies in poultry keeping. Secondly, the government should increase efforts on subsidising inputs such as feeds, vaccination and treatment medicine. Moreover, the government should influence financial institutions to provide loans to chicken farmers with affordable conditions this will encourage them to request loans and get capital; finally, the government should recruit more extension officers and improve their mobility (e.g., transport provision) since extension services are a key driver of adoption.