VILLAGE CHICKEN (VC) PRODUCTION IN NCERA VILLAGES IN THE BUFFALO CITY METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY, EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA: CURRENT PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES

Village chickens are the most common kind of livestock bred in rural areas in the developing countries and are reared by even the poorest households. This study explored production practices used by smallholder producers of village chickens in Ncera Villages in Buffalo City Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The aim was to obtain a deeper insight into the unique conditions confronting rural chicken producers so that appropriate support could be provided. Research confirms that there is dearth of research conducted on traditional production practices in South Africa despite the contribution this system has to the lives of many rural communities. This study is therefore an attempt to close that gap. A qualitative approach to data collection was adopted in carrying out this study. Semi-structured face-to-face in-depth interviews were utilised to gather data from a purposive sample of thirtyty (30) households that were rearing indigenous chickens in Ncera Villages. This research focused on the reasons for rearing these birds, uses of and opportunities for village chicken production, selling of ICs, housing of these chickens and constraints encountered by producers. Findings of this study revealed that VCs play a significant role in households’ well-being by providing food (meat and eggs) and income. The study further discovered that VC producers were bedevilled by constraints in the form of predators, theft, lack of capital, lack of decent housing for the birds. The study has provided recommendations. The findings of this research would benefit rural households, civil organisations, government and research institutions as well as the policy implications in so far as sustainable livelihoods are concerned in the province.