CHICKEN EXCRETA MANAGEMENT AND ITS PERCEIVED ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

Rapid growth of the poultry industry has led to increased generation of chicken excreta. Improper disposal of chicken waste, in particular, chicken excreta, has led to environmental pollution. Previous studies focused on poultry waste disposal generally. However, there is dearth of information on environmentally friendly and economically viable methods of chicken excreta disposal. Therefore, chicken excreta management and its perceived environmental effects in Southwestern Nigeria were investigated.

A three-stage sampling procedure was used. Two states: Oyo and Ogun, were purposively selected due to high concentration of chicken farms in the states. Two local government areas were purposively selected from each state: Afijio and Ido, Odeda and Obafemi-Owode from Oyo and Ogun States, respectively. The last stage involved random selection of 33, 35, 33 and 47 chicken farmers and 16, 17, 17 and 23 residents from Afijio, Ido, Odeda and Obafemi-Owode, respectively proportionate to size. Structured questionnaire was administered to obtain data on socio-economic and demographic characteristics, chicken excreta disposal methods, perceived environmental effects and willingness to pay (WTP) for chicken excreta disposal. Index of environmental effects was computed in respect of odour, diseases, water and soil pollution, using a five- category Likert Scale, to capture degree of severity of the environmental pollution, with the scale ranging from 1-5 (least affected) to 21-25 (severely affected). Using system dynamics, a fertilizer plant was modelled and simulations made to investigate the feasibility of using chicken excreta in producing organic fertilizer. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, system dynamics model, probit model and ordered probit at α0.05. Most chicken farmers were male (85.1%) and married (86.4%). Respondents age was 41.0±10.8 years, while household size was 5.0±2.0 persons. Majority (81.0%) had formal education and farming experience of 8.09±5.9 years. Residents around the farms were male (59.0%), married (80.8%) and their main source of water (56.0%) was hand-dug wells. A higher proportion (50.0%) of respondents used chicken excreta as manure, 47.0% dumped it on vacant lands, while 29.0% sold it. Fourteen percent of farmers were highly affected by the environmental effect of chicken excreta, more residents (18.0%) were highly affected. Least effect of chicken excreta was experienced by 6.3% and 11.3% of farmers and residents, respectively. Residents around the farms were more affected than chicken farmers with a mean score of 16.21 and 14.82 respectively. Most farmers (65.0%) were willing to pay for disposal of chicken excreta. A unit increase in age, total income, total chicken excreta generated and education had the probability of increasing chicken farmers WTP for chicken excreta management by 0.04, 0.018, 0.36 and 0.09, respectively. Farming experience had a negative effect (-0.06). Beginning from 2014, a projected five-year optimal combination of resources to produce organic fertilizers generated gross margins of N9.1m, N18.7m, N20.9m, N 21.1m, and N21.2m. Residents around the chicken farms in Southwestern Nigeria were more affected by improper chicken excreta disposal methods than chicken farmers. Most chicken farmers were willing to pay for excreta management. Organic fertilizer produced from chicken excreta was projected to be profitable, sustainable and environmentally-friendly.

Keywords: Chicken excreta, Environmental effects, Willingness to pay, Organic fertilizer, System dynamics Words Count: 499