Masters Dissertation
This study’s main objective was to assess small-scale chicken keeper‘s knowledge and practices in enhancing Household livelihood in Makurunge and Fukayosi wards in Bagamoyo District, Tanzania. The objective of the study was to determine chicken keepers’ knowledge on small-scale local chicken production, to identify local chicken keepers on management practices and to identify the relationship of socio-personal and socio-economic status of local chicken keeper’s knowledge and practices. This study used a cross-sectional design to collect data from rural households and communities using survey approaches. While the survey component was crucial in gaining deeper, understand of the extent of knowledge and practices to chicken keepers for improving their household livelihoods. Nineties (90) household’s members from five hamlets of Makurunge ward and two village from fukayosi was selected namely Mtoni, Mkwajuni, Kibaoni, Gezaulole, Kifude and Mkenge, Kidomole were interviewed and one respondent represented each household, including several key informant interviews. The study revealed that the majority of the farmers were keeping few numbers of local chicken which when sold could not earn a reasonable income to sustain the livelihood. Interviewed households reported insects, leftovers, greens, coconut cake, cereals, bran, and fruits as the major ingredient of the scavenged feed, which is generally abundant during rainy season. Based on findings from this study, it is suggest that seminars, training, provision of credit and policy recommendations should be programmed in order to enhance the benefits of local chicken keeper’s livelihoods. Finally, there should be an increased investment in research and development through introduction of multi-disciplinary approach to research about the knowledge and practices for chicken keeper’s livelihoods improvement.