Market structure, conduct and performance of chicken marketing in birninkebbi local government area of kebbi state, Nigeria

The purpose of this study was to analyze the chicken marketing in BirninKebbi Local Government Area. The specific objectives include describing the socioeconomic characteristics of chicken traders, estimation of the market structure, conduct and performance of chicken marketing. To address the aforementioned objectives, econometric models were employed. Alternative marketing channels and their systematic linkages and relative importance in the flow of birds and egg from the point of production to the end users were identified and mapped. Whole sellers and retailers played crucial roles in the sample markets in the transaction of chicken from producers to consumers. Strong oligopolistic behavior is observed in the study area due to the short and inconsistent supply of chicken that inhibits new entrants to engage in the business. Chicken trading in Birninkebbi and Ambusa also shows modest oligopolistic behavior due to the involvement of whole sellers who transport their chicken from villages to the sample markets that comparatively demands high capital and information than the makera and gulumbe chicken market places. Business support services such as credit, extension, input provision and information access in the production and marketing of village poultry are poorly developed or almost nonexistent in the study area. The village poultry subsector provides ample opportunities for smallholder farmers since it utilizes resources that are abundant in rural areas and the anticipated rising price and demand in domestic and international markets. The subsector was also constrained by various challenges. According to the market survey, traders face lack of capital, short and inconsistent supply and, poor information and infrastructure development such as diseases storage, and transportation facilities. Despite the numerous challenges the subsector still remains profitable business for the rural poor.