Studies on Phytochemical Screening and Enzyme Activities of Composted and Uncomposted Pleurotus pulmonarius at various Fruit bodies and Substrate Stages

Abstract

An assessment of Socio-economic role and challenges of rural chicken production was conducted using structured questionnaires in three Keble’s of Nole Kabba Woreda of West Wellega Zone in Ethiopia. Thirty, 33 and 29 households were randomly selected from poor, medium and rich wealthy groups, respectively. On the other hand, 32, 29 and 31 were selected from mid-highland, highland and lowland agro-ecological zones, respectively. Thus, a total of 92 households and 18 key informants (6 individual from each Kebele) were used. Finally, all the collected data were analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS)procedures. Result of this study showed that 50% of the total households (HH) in three Agro-ecological zones raise chicken as an income source while 27% are consumed at home. It was observed that 67% of the wealthy HH’s 67% keep chicken for home consumption while majority of medium (51.5%) and poor (45%) HH’s rear keep chicken as their income source. The study also revealed that the consumption of poultry and poultry product is compulsory during holidays. 67% of the poor households consume poultry and its product during holidays while this level goes up to 93% when it comes to  rich households. Furthermore, the priority of egg consumption was found to be at the levels of 50, 27 and 23% for the elderly, children and patients, respectively. An important conclusion in the present context, but apparently unexplored is that in 45% and 39% of the total respondents from highland and lowland considered predators as the major constraint while 33% of the respondents from the mid-highland considered widespread disease as the major constraints of chicken production in the study areas. Thus, existing poultry extension package needs to address important veterinary issues and predator control since poultry disease and predator attacks are widely spread in the Woreda.