Analysis of Profitability and Constraints of Table Egg Production Enterprises in Benue State, Nigeria

This study was carried out in Benue State, Nigeria. It was aimed at determining the profitability of table egg production enterprises and the constraints limiting their operations. The population of the study comprised all registered table egg production enterprises in Benue State, Nigeria. A sample size of 65 table egg production enterprises were selected using multi-stage random sampling technique. Cross sectional data were obtained from the 65 table egg producers with the aid of structured questionnaire. Data collected from the enterprises were analysed using descriptive statistics, farm budgeting technique and factor analysis methods. The results revealed that the table egg production enterprises in the state were of medium scale, with mean flock size of 1040 birds. An average producer in the enterprise was 44 years old and had a household size of 7 persons. All the producers had obtained one for of formal education or the other, with tertiary education being the majority (69.2%). Table egg production was found to be a profitable venture in the study area with Net Farm Income (NFI) of ₦ 1248.03 per bird. However, the enterprises are faced with a number of constraints militating against their efficient operation. These including financial/marketing, inputs and environmental constraints. Based on the findings of this study, it was concluded that table egg production in the State is profitable. The enterprise remains a viable investment option for investors, as it possesses high growth potentials which are achievable through increased investment and proper management of identified constraints. Hence, subsidization of poultry production inputs by the government, making loans/grants easily accessible to egg farmers at single digit interest rates, formation of cooperative societies by the producers in the enterprise, setting up of more feed mills in the state and support for researches geared toward developing Non-feed-food competing feed materials were recommended as means of increasing profitability of table egg enterprises in the Study area.