ABSTRACT

This study was carried out on the socio economic determinants of pig production in Owerri agricultural zone of Imo State. The specific objectives includes: To determine the socio economic characteristics of pig producers in Owerri agricultural zone, to determine the resource use efficiency in production of pigs, to examine the factors that determine the level of output on farm, to determine the various problem associated with pig production in the study area and to proper solutions and make policy recommendations based on the findings. A niulti- stage sampling approach was used to collect primary data from a random sample of 53 pig farmers with the help of well framed questionnaires. Secondary data were gathered from text books, journals and other relevant documents. Statistical and econometric tools were used in the analysis of data. From the result of this study, it is discovered that 55% percent of the pig farmers in the study area fall within the ages of 41-60 years which indicates a prependerene of ageing and lessen energetic population. 60% of the populated are educated upto tertiary level, this may lead to easy adoption of new technology and improvement in efficiency. Pig farmers having experienced of 1-5 years constitute 60 percent, indicating that people are entering into the business newly, 92% of farmers got their initial capital through personal savings this may lead to poor capital formation 53 percent do have 50 and below number of animals as their farm size which shows that most pig farmers are between small scale and medium scale farming. The regression co- efficient were positive for household size, amount spent on feed and expenses on labour. Indicating a direct relationship with output. The efficiency analysis indicates that amount spent of drugs was over utilized while amount spent on feed, expenses on labour and amount of initial capital were under utilized. The main constraints faced by pig farmers in a decreasing magnitude were inadequate capital, (89 percent) inadequate transport facilities (60 percent) feed (58 percent) inadequate storage facilities (47 percent) among others. In other to improve the output of pig farmers; it was recommended that the government should provide loan to pig farmers, transport system should be upgraded and co-operative actives should be encouraged.