Determinant Factors Affecting Access to Alternative Market Outlet Choices of Poultry Farm-holders in Hadiya Zone, Central Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction: The poultry sector in Ethiopia, particularly in the Hadiya Zone, is constrained by multiple challenges across its value chain from input supply and production to marketing and institutional support. Understanding how poultry farm-holders choose among different market outlets is essential for strengthening domestic poultry development through improved market participation and efficiency.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the major types of market outlets used by poultry farm-holders and to analyze factors affecting access to alternative market outlet choices of poultry Farm-holders in Hadiya Zone, Central Ethiopia

Methods: Primary data were collected from 297 poultry farmers, 25 traders, 8 processors, and 54 consumers using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and a multinomial logistic regression model were employed to assess the poultry value chain and determine the significant factors influencing the choice of market outlets.

Results: Descriptive analysis revealed that the Ethiopian poultry value chain suffers from poor input supply, traditional production methods, rudimentary processing practices, fragmented markets, and weak institutional support. The multinomial logistic regression results showed that the age of the household head, access to extension services, post-harvest value addition, poultry product pricing, and mode of payment significantly influenced the probability of choosing processor and trader market outlets over individual consumer outlets.

Conclusions: To enhance the poultry value chain’s development and efficiency, policies should prioritize access to modern feed, veterinary services, credit facilities, and infrastructure improvement. Strengthening extension systems and aligning breeding strategies to harness the benefits of both local and exotic poultry breeds are also recommended. These strategies should consider critical determinants such as household demographics, access to services, and market-related factors affecting market outlet decisions