Socio-Economic Factors as Determinants of Farm Management Skills Among Broiler Poultry Producers in Botswana

Abstract

When considering the importance of farm management, poor growth and challenges in poultry production, it is important to analyze and understand the current level of the managerial skills and the factors influencing these skills. This descriptive and co-relational study analyzed socio-economic factors influencing farm management skills among broiler poultry producers in Botswana. A valid and reliable questionnaire was used for data collection through a survey of 60 randomly sampled broiler poultry farm operators in Botswana. Data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistical tools where by mean, frequency, correlation, t-test and analysis of variance were employed. Findings revealed that socio-economic factors of gender, level of education, experience in poultry farming, farm capacity, number of workers employed, ownership status, training status and financial support status significantly influenced the level of farm management skills. Broiler producers, particularly the female should be trained as the training has significant influence on the level of farm management skills. Financial support should be availed as it attracts producers with higher skill which in turn, increases the efficiency in broilers production. Larger farms should be encouraged enabling the higher productivity of broilers farms.