Indigenous Poultry Keeping as A Source of Employment for the Rural Youth in Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria is currently facing serious security challenges ranging from arm struggle such as boko-haram, militancy, robbery, kidnapping, corruption, political thuggery and human trafficking. These challenges pose a great challenge to attaining economic stability in Nigeria. Youth are at the centers of entire crisis due to under employment to some extent and unemployment to large extent. And most of these youth migrate from rural areas where there is a vast area of land and resources suitable for free range system of poultry keeping. Nigeria is endowed with all the natural conditions favorable for both crops and livestock production. This paper aimed at proposing ways for overcoming these challenges through improved method of raising local breeds of chickens with the aim of reducing unemployment among youth. With the review of some related literature and market survey of the price of essential inputs in three markets across Katsina state of Nigeria, this paper indicated that with little improvement in terms of feeding, housing and management, farmer who started with only 10 hens and 1 cock can increase his stock by more than 1,600 chickens in a year. In monetary terms a farmer who started rearing with only a little more than ?25,000 to cover the variable cost can make up ?880,000 in just one year. Egg laying capacity and carcass value of the local breeds can be improved by supplementing feeds and eggs/chicks withdrawal. Government and non-governmental agencies should join hand to facilitate easy acquisition of inputs and creates ready market for the outputs.