Jimma University

JUCAVM

WELCOME TO SENIOR RESEARCH PRESENTATION

CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES OF SMALL

RUMINANT PRODUCTION IN AGARO TOWN
By

Abdiwali Ibrahim and Mulugeta Nuriye

1
JIMMA, ETHIOPIA
JUN,2017
 1.INTRODUCTION

1.1.Background of the research

Ethiopia has one of the largest livestock population in Africa

Livestock play an important role in providing export commodities

in a form of live animals, hides and skins.

Despite the large livestock population with high potential for meat

and milk production.

A number of factors hindered the development of livestock sector

in Ethiopia (World Bank, 2006).

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 cont

In pastoral and agro-pastoral areas like Jimma zone, sheep and

goats are

Important components of the farming system, which benefit

smallholder farmers in generating cash income as well as milk.

These include poor genetic potential of the indigenous animals,

inadequate veterinary services, shortage of animal feeds as well as

the absence of good management (CSA, 2011).

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 1.2 Statement of the problem

The present level of productivity of sheep and goat in different part of

Ethiopia is generally low, mainly because of

poor genetic potential of the indigenous animals (Alemu, 2008 as cited in

Asfaw, 2012).But there are some constraints like

inadequate veterinary services

shortage of animal feeds

as well as the absence of good management

Which indicates that there are factors directly or indirectly influencing the

small ruminant production practices is not well assessed.

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 1.3.Objectives

1.2.1. General Objective

objectives of the study are to identify constraints and opportunities
of small ruminant production in the study area.
1.2.2. The Specific Objectives
To identify the current practices and constraints of small ruminant
production in the area
To identify the opportunities of small ruminant production in the
study area

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 1.4 Basic research questions

What are the current practices and constraints of small

ruminant production?
What are the opportunities of small ruminant production

practices?

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 1.5 Significance of the study

This study would generate useful information in small ruminant production

and guidelines for interventions that would improve the efficiency of small

ruminant production system.

The potential users of this finding would be farmers (producers), traders,

policy designers, decision makers,

development planners and development agents government

and nongovernment organizations that have an interest to intervene in small

ruminant production and opportunities.

Researchers who want further investigation on small ruminant production

7 would use the result from this study.
 1.6 Scope and Limitation of the study
This research was conducted in Agaro town which is 50 km

from Jimma town.

Due to shortage of time, financial constraint and negative

attitude of respondents; that forced the researchers to limit the

sample size.

The study was only focused on constraints and opportunities

of small ruminant production found in two kebeles of Agaro

town.

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 2. METHODOLOGY

2.1 Descriptive of the study area

Agaro is town in south western part of Ethiopia in Oromia region
and one of the 13 towns of Jimma zones.
It is administrative center of Gomma woreda and has 5 kebeles.
This town located 390 km from Addis Ababa and 50 km from Jimma
town.
It lies between 7o 51N and 360 35E, with altitudinal ranges from
1387 to 2870 m above sea level (Gela, 2012).

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 2.2 Research design

2.2.1 Sampling technique

The study will be undertaken in Agaro town.

We use mult-stage random sampling

Agaro town was selected from districts of Jimma zone purposively

keeping in view the availability of small ruminant sector and accessibility

of the district with the available resource and time.

We were select two Kebele purposively among five kebeles and 40

households by lottery method random sampling through probability

proportion to size.
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 Cont.

To determine the sample size of the population, slovins formula

were used.

n=N/+(N*e^2)=16839/+(16839*0.01)=99

n-sample size N-total population e-error-10%

But due to shortage time, financial constraint, climatic condition,

the sample size was reduced to 40HH.

Then by using proportional sample size we reduce the number of

respondent from 99 to 40 household.

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 Diagram representing sampling procedure

Jimma

Agaro
Purposive
Two
kebeles

Kebele(01)=20 Kebele(02)=20 Random sampling

40 PPS

Source: our survey 2017

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 2.3 Types and sources of data collection

For this study, primary and secondary sources were used.

To collect quantitative data, semi-structured interview schedules we were used.

In additional to questionnaire personal interview and observation were used.

Secondary information was collected from secondary sources of data which are

written in governmental offices, by reading books and different materials.

Data related to small ruminants production affairs were collected from different

governmental organizations like Kebele Administrators, ministry of finance and

ministry of agriculture.

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 2.4 Methods of data analysis
The data were organized, summarized and analyzed using SPSS
statistical package (SPSS version 16.0.).

Quantitative information was analyzed by using descriptive data

analysis method such as table and percentage,

which describe the collected data to clearly understand by the

readers. In describing results of analysis wherever appropriate,

the numbers of households providing data are included in each

table.
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 3. Result and discussion
3.1 Age of respondents

80 67.5

60
frequency
40 25 27
percent
20 10 7.5
3
0
<30 31-65 >65
Source: our survey 2017

The figure mentioned the age variation of the respondents, i.e. 25.0% of the
respondents were under age of (30), 67.5% were between (31-65).

While 7.5% were above the age (>65).these finding could be concluded that

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majority of the respondents were in the age of productive.
 3.2 Sex of respondents
sex Frequency Percent
male 32 80.0
female 8 20.0
total 40 100

Sources: our survey 2017

The table depicted above clarified the of sex of the respondents which
shows (32)80.0% of the respondents were male.
while (8)20.0% of the remaining respondents composition were female.
This can be concluded that the maximum participators of the small
ruminants production members were male participators.
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 3.3 Religion of respondents
Religion Frequency Percent
Orthodox 15 37.5
Protestant 4 10.0
Muslim 21 52.5
total 40 100

Sources: Our survey 2017

The majority of the households were Muslims

21(52.5%)
followed by Orthodox Christians 15(37.5%) and

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Protestant 4(10%).
 3.4 Educational level of respondents
Education level Frequency Percent
Illiterate 10 25.0

Literate 30 75.0

total 40 100

Sources: Our survey 2017

The majorities 30(75%) of the interviewed household heads

were literate while 10(25%) of them were illiterate.
Literate household they more attention to their ruminants to
improve their health and feeding system than others.
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 3.5 land utilization of respondents
category No of hectare Frequency Percent
0.25-1 hectare 9 22.5
Own land 1.25-2 hectare 13 32.5
2.5-4 hectare 11 27.5
Non-land _ 7 17.5
Total 65.5
Source: our survey 2017hectare 40 100
Source: our survey 2017
As the response from respondents, out of 40, 82.5%(33) of the respondents had own
land.

But the remaining 17.5%(7) of the respondents were not land owners.

Because, during the distribution of the land tillers. They were not matured and take
into account in the receiving land. But they are living with contract as well as trading
19 some small business.
 3.6 Purpose of keeping small ruminant
purpose
______________________________________
Income Saving Meat Manure
Ranked
1st 6 0 2 0
2nd 22 9 0 0
3rd 0 1 16 1
4th 3 18 5 0

Source: our survey 2017

In Agaro district, small ruminants are kept for different purposes (Table

3). About (31)77.5% of the small ruminant keepers keep them mainly for
income generation.

The second main reason for keeping small ruminant in the study area is
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for saving purpose.
 3.7 Reasons of housing small ruminants production

Particulars Frequency Percents

Predators 20 50,0
Bad weather 11 27.5
Supplementation 9 22.5
Total 40 100
Source: our survey 2017
Small ruminant housing: About 20(50.0%), 11(27.5%) and
9(22.5%)
shelter their sheep and goats for reasons of protecting from
predators, bad weather and to provide supplement in the evening
respectively (Table 4).
Small ruminants are varying. sheltered for protection in most rural
communities such as, in Agaro area and however, places of
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sheltering and type of house were varying.
 3.8 Feeds and feeding system
Feed source Frequency Percent
Communal land 31 77.5
Grazing riverside 30 75
Road side grazing 29 72.5
Grazing aftermath 23 57.5
Indigenous browses 22 55
crop residues 20 50

Source: our survey 2017

Feed problem is one of the major factors that hinders the development
and expansion of small ruminant production management.
The main feed resources to animals in the district are natural pasture,

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crop residues, stubble, grazing from fallow lands, forest and shrub areas.
 cont

Communal grazing land, roadside grazing, riverside grazing,

aftermath grazing are the major types of grazing for sheep and

goats. From the interviewed

Households, (31)77.5%, (30)75.0%, (29)72.5%, (23)57.5%,

(22)55.0% and (20)50.0% of them

utilize communal grazing, riverside grazing, roadside grazing,

grazing aftermath, indigenous browses and crop residues

respectively.
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 3.9 Consumption of small ruminant

Occasions Frequency Percent

Holidays 35 87.5
weeding 20 50.0
when animal available 24 60.0
Births in family 19 47.5
Guests 18 45.0
Circumcise 29 72.5
Funerals 18 45.0
Crop(coffee) harvest 32 80.0
Source: our survey 2017
In Agaro district, small ruminant meat was consumed during various
occasions.
However, the time is mostly restricted to holidays and some occasions like
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weeding, births in a family, funerals and during coffee harvest (Table 6).
 Cont.
The majority 35(87.5%) of households consume meat during festival

times while 32(80 %) of households consume small ruminant meat

during coffee harvest season.

According to the interviewed Households, slaughtering small ruminants

when coffee is to harvest is a common among farmers in area in good

coffee years.

Weeding time 20(50.0%) is also a time when small ruminants are

slaughtered. Other reasons include birth in family 19(47.5%), during

hosting guests18(45.0%) and circumcision 29(72.5%) and funerals
25 18(45%).
 3.10 extension, cooperative and credit
services for small ruminant production

In spite of extension activities in various aspect of

agriculture,

there has not been any specific extension package for small

ruminants provided by NGOs or GOs in the district.

Only one-fifth of interviewed households were members of

different types of cooperatives. There are NGOs and GOs

that provide credit in the Agaro district.

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 cont.

Their focus is mainly on coffee processing, small

ruminant and cattle fattening.

They usually give credits for the group that forms

cooperatives.

Except the fattening activities, the role of credit services

and cooperatives is limited in small ruminant production.

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 3.11 constraints of small ruminant production
Constraints Frequency Percentage Rank
Problem of diseases 34 85.0 1st
Feed and grazing land shortage 29 72.5 2nd
In adequate veterinary coverage 26 65.0 3rd
Poor management system 24 60.0 4th
Lack of capital/credit 22 55.0 5th

Market availability 18 45.0 6th

Source: our survey 2017
Diseases hamper small ruminant production by causing
high mortalities especially among suckling animals.
From interviewed households, 85.0% indicated diseases and
parasites to be among the major constraints for small ruminant production in the
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area.
 Cont

From the interviewed households, 72.5% of the respondents

reported feed and grazing land shortage in the area.

And it was further worsened by the lack of awareness and

practice of feed conservation techniques.

Problems of in adequate veterinary coverage, Poor

management system, Lack of capital/credit and Market
availability/marketability constitute 65%, 60%, 55% and 45%
of the constraints mentioned by the interviewed households.
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 3.12 Opportunities of Small Ruminant Production
Opportunities Frequency Percent Rank
Easy to manage 34 85.0 1st
Water supply 28 70.0 2nd
High market demand 24 60.0 3rd
In food and economic 19 47.5 4th
security
Expending export market 16 40 5th
Source: our survey 2017
The integration of small ruminant production is important as they
can be intermediate cash sources during coffee failure time.
From interviewed households, 85.5% indicated small ruminants are
easy to manage than livestock, and it also considered as the most
opportunities that facilitate small ruminant production and
management.
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 Cont

From the interviewed households, 70 % of the respondents

reported water supply is the second important opportunities for

small ruminant production.

From the interviewed households, 60%, 47.5% and 40% of

households reported that high market demand, in food and

economic security and

expending export market are some of the opportunities for small

ruminant production in the study area (table.9)

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 4.Concluction and Recommendation

4.1 Conclusion
Small Ruminants are integral part of livestock keeping in Ethiopian farming and

pastoral Community and

they are mainly kept for immediate cash sources, milk, meat, wool, manure, and

saving or risk distribution.

They also play important role as sources of foreign currency through export of

live animals or their products.

The major problems for small ruminant production and opportunities were: feed

and grazing land shortage, diseases and parasites, Lack of capital/credit, poor
management system market availability/marketability in adequate veterinary
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coverage feed and grazing land shortage.
 4.2. RECOMMENDATION

Feed shortage and disease prevalence were the two most important

sheep and goat production constraints and

should be made on improving veterinary service and the feed

availability

by using feed conservation techniques Government, NGO and

research center should work together and

give emphasis on improving small ruminant sector.

Should Improve market infrastructures

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 Cont.

Farmers has to focus small ruminant production with crop

production for solving shortage of feed

An extension package that is intended to improve the economic

contribution and

Productivity of small ruminants should also be designed

The females should be motivated by farmers and concerned

government and non-government body to participate equally

with male in small ruminant production practices.
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