ASSESSMENT OF VILLAGE CHICKEN PRODUCTION POTENTIAL, MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND MARKETING SYSTEM IN WADERA AND ANASORA DISTRICTS, GUJI ZONE, ETHIOPIA

The present study was carried out in Wadera and Ana Sora districts of Guji Zone of the Oromia Regional State, Southern Ethiopia to assessing village chicken production potential, management practices and marketing system and related challenges to the village chicken production. A semistructured questionnaire interview and Group discussion were employed generated data. For survey data collections a total of 168 respondents (Wadera =84 and Ana Sora=84) were random selected and interview individually. The collected data were analysed by using statistical analysis system of general linear model. Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables where as mean quantitative data were compared by Duncan multiple range tests. Village chicken production was an essential element of livestock production system and plays a significant role in the livelihood of the farming community in both study districts. Disease (index=0.48 and 0.50) was the major challenge of chicken production in followed by predator attack (index=0.35 and 0.50) in study districts. The other challenges included feed shortage, lack of proper housing, unsustainable market, poor extension follow up lack of proper breeding practice and access for improved breeds. These all factors resulted in low level of productivity of village chickens and lead to a poor benefit of the farmers. Based on the study results, the majority of the interviewed village chicken owners participate in chicken and egg marketing in both districts. The majority (55.95 and 58.33%) household sold chicken and egg as source of income. Therefore, appropriate intervention should be implement through chicken disease and predator control, breed improvement strategies, providing frequent extension services interims of regular training to farmers focusing on disease prevention, improved housing, feeding and watering of chicken line with proper product handling and marketing 4<br>