DETERMINANTS OF BROILER PRODUCTION AND ITS EFFECTS ON POVERTY STATUS AMONG CIVIL SERVANTS IN JOS METROPOLIS, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

The research was carried out to analyze broiler production as a sustainable tool in reducing poverty among civil servants in Plateau State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: determine the profitability of broiler production; evaluate the poverty status and the effect of broiler income on the poverty status of the civil servants; identify the socio-economic factors influencing the level of broiler production; and describe the constraints of broiler production. Data from 120 members of Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) who are civil servants, were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Majority of the civil servants that engaged in broiler farmers were women. Findings revealed that the influx of new entrants into broiler production in recent times was due to the ban on importation of frozen poultry product by the Federal Government of Nigeria which create high demand-supply gap. The civil servants’ broiler producers earned a profit margin of 58% and return on investment of ₦1.67 per Naira invested. This resulted into reduced FGT poverty indices. The level of broiler production were significantly determined by sex, level of education and experience at different level of probability. Likewise, the poverty status of the civil servants were significantly affected by salary and income from broiler production at 1 and 5 % levels of probability. Major constraints in broiler production were high cost of feed and vaccines. Government ban on importation of poultry meat is plausible and should be further imbibed by the Nigerian citizens to consume home grown poultry meat.