Implications of farm succession plans on sustainable poultry productivity in Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The significance of farm succession planning in sustaining smooth transitioning longevity of family farm operations, especially with the overly ageing farming population in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), cannot be over-emphasised. The objective of this study was to examine the implications of farm succession plans on sustainable poultry productivity in Oyo state, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 260 respondents (108 poultry farmers and 152 farmers’ children who were between 15 and 25 years old), for the purpose in Egbeda and Oluyole Local Government Areas of Oyo State, Nigeria. Data were obtained using a questionnaire, which was administered through interview schedules. Most (86%) of the farmers had at a point or the other considered the succession of their farm. Results of an Ordered Logistic Regression showed that poultry farmers’ succession plans were significantly influenced by farming status (part-time or full-time) (=1.455; z=1.95), stock size (=2.089; z=2.83), Generational Integration Process (=4.049; z=6.00), gender of farmer (=1.012; z=1.65) and profitability of farm over the last three years (=0.036; z=1.75). From the children (potential successors) stand point, personal interest (z = 1.71), number of siblings (z=-3.01) and farm profitability in the last three years (z=3.63), had significant influence on their disposition towards farm succession. Age (z= -0.45), gender (z= 1.01), birth order (z= -0.66), parent’s education level (z=0.38) of potential successors, did not have significant effects on their disposition towards farm succession. Profitability of the farm business was a major factor in farm succession on the part of both farmers and potential successors. Results suggest that more females should engage in poultry business and farmers should adopt GIP for farm succession.