DETERMINANTS OF YOUTH POULTRY FARMERS’ ADOPTION OF SELECTED BIOSAFETY PRACTICES AGAINST AVIAN-INFLUENZA OUTBREAKS IN JIGAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examines the socio-economic determinant of youth poultry farmers’ adoption of selected biosecurity practices against avian-influenza (HPAI-A/H5N1) outbreaks in Jigawa State, Nigeria. A total of 120 respondents were selected through a multistage sampling procedure were used for the study. Majority (75.0%) were married, males (92.5%) with average age of 24 years. Average proportion (50.0%) has secondary education while below average (40.0%) has no formal education. Average monthly income is N26,075.00 and farming experience of 13 years. Mean: household size of 5 persons; flock size of 411 birds; membership of social group (91.7%) and no extension contact (84.2%). The respondents highly practiced vaccination of birds ( x = 1.000), constant cleaning of farm ( x = 1.167), hand washing with soap and water after toileting (  x= 1.492) and cleaning before restocking new birds (  x= 1.625) in cleaning. In the disinfection sub-components only; keeping of farm records (  x= 1.583), disinfection of equipment brought to the farm (  x= 1.667) and constant and periodic disinfection of equipments, poultry house and cloths ( x = 1.792) were highly practices while in segregation and traffic control sub-components, they highly practiced most of the activities except; employee restrictions ( x = 2.250), periodic visitation to ADP Office for training ( x = 2.750) and visitors/vehicle entry cleaning protocols (  x= 3.000). The respondents have high adoption level (  x= 1.832) on the segregation and traffic control, medium level of adoption for cleaning ( x = 2.159) and disinfection shows low level of adoption of the standard biosecurity components (  x= 2.458). Major source of awareness of AI are; Co-farmers/farmers group (79.2%), radio program (73.3%) and family/friends/neighbors (59.2%) among others. The highly severe constraints of the youth poultry farmers were; lack of education, poor extension/veterinary contact, lack of Buffer Areas around the farm site and lack/ poor farm record keeping (  x= 1.000).