A Literature Review on Sustainability of Poultry Production: Socio-Economic Role and Alternative as Climate Change Resilience of Livestock Production in Ethiopia

Abstract

The development of family-based poultry production is becoming a pressing business issue for all governmental, non-governmental, and private investors due to the rapid increase in urbanization and the Ethiopian population. Starting with individual households nationwide, the poultry enterprise sector is a significant part of the livestock industry that is essential for the sustainability and growth of the national economy. The poultry sector presents numerous alternative business opportunities for millions of young people and rural households. Family-based poultry production is a growing concern for the development of a green economy, as it has the potential to mitigate the effects of climate change. However, these days, the poultry production business faces several obstacles to its successful growth, starting with supply and processing constraints of inputs, as well as a shortage of high-quality technology, equipment, and feed ingredients. Additionally, the value chain for feed processing is limited, and locally accessible poultry feed resources are not used effectively. Another factor stemmed from producers and consumers who did not fully understand the importance of family-based poultry production in society. This was caused by a shortage of day-old chicks (DOCs) and parent stock, as well as poor breed improvement practices that resulted in inconsistent and unprofitable poultry products in terms of both quantity and quality. Ethiopian poultry breeding projects should consider farmers' preferences and production goals to achieve the dual objectives of increasing output and conserving the native chicken gene pool's adaptability. The introduction of chicken strains that can adapt to the tropics and mimic the indigenous chicken features that farmers value is an alternative to using local genetic resources.