Assessment on consumption and marketing system of chickens in Gena Bossa district, south Ethiopia

This study was conducted in Gena Bossa district on assessment of consumption and marketing of chickens with the objectives of assessing chicken meat and egg consumption and marketing system of chickens. Random sampling method was used to select 138 households for interview. About 55.1% of chickens were owned by wife and the rest of flocks were owned by husband, boys and girls. Almost all of the farm activities were conducted by women especially cleaning poultry house, feeding and watering of chickens. About 40.6% of respondents provide half a day to care chickens. Chicken meat and egg consumption were connected with holidays. Farmers consume chicken meat 3.64 times per year and they consume egg 2.22 times per month. There were no formal market channel for live chickens and egg marketing. Market fluctuation of chickens and eggs occur during holidays. Unstable price, demand seasonality, lack of market places, poor infrastructure and lack of market information were common factors affecting live chicken and egg marketing in the study area. In summary, this result recommended that government should organize production of chickens with marketing channel. Key words: Chicken, consumption, marketing, Gena Bossa.