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Effect of Extension Training on Poultry Farmers’ Adoption of Improved Egg Handling Practices

Abstract

Egg production is an important component of poultry farming that contributes to household income, food supply, employment, and livelihood development. However, poor handling of eggs after collection can result in breakage, contamination, quality deterioration, and economic losses for poultry farmers. The adoption of improved egg handling practices can help maintain egg quality, minimise losses, improve food safety, and increase the market value of eggs. Extension training can provide poultry farmers with the knowledge and practical skills required to apply appropriate egg handling methods. This study will examine the effect of extension training on poultry farmers’ adoption of improved egg handling practices. It will assess farmers’ exposure to extension training and determine the extent to which such training influences their adoption of recommended egg handling practices. The study will also examine the sources of egg handling information available to poultry farmers and identify challenges affecting their adoption of improved practices. The study will focus on farmers’ adoption of practices such as frequent egg collection, careful handling, proper sorting and grading, cleaning, appropriate storage, temperature and humidity management, hygienic handling, suitable packaging, careful transportation, protection from contamination, and proper marketing. It will also consider farmers’ participation in extension training, frequency of training, practical demonstrations, access to advisory information, and availability of appropriate egg handling materials and facilities. A quantitative research approach will be adopted for the study. Data will be collected from poultry farmers using structured questionnaires designed to measure their exposure to extension training and adoption of improved egg handling practices. The data will be analysed using descriptive statistics, adoption-level assessment, correlation analysis, and regression analysis to determine the relationship between extension training and farmers’ adoption of recommended egg handling practices. The study is expected to reveal that poultry farmers who receive regular and relevant extension training may demonstrate greater adoption of improved egg handling practices. Training and practical demonstrations may improve farmers’ application of proper collection, sorting, grading, storage, packaging, transportation, and hygiene practices. However, inadequate storage facilities, limited access to extension training, financial constraints, poor handling equipment, and insufficient technical information may continue to affect farmers’ adoption of improved practices. The study will be useful to poultry farmers, agricultural extension agents, farmer organisations, agricultural development agencies, policymakers, poultry development programmes, egg marketers, non-governmental organisations, and researchers. It may provide useful information for strengthening extension training programmes and improving farmers’ capacity to manage eggs properly after collection. The findings may also support efforts to reduce egg losses, maintain product quality, improve food safety, increase market value, and enhance farmers’ income. The study concludes that extension training is important for promoting poultry farmers’ adoption of improved egg handling practices and reducing post-production losses. It is therefore recommended that agricultural extension agencies provide regular and practical training on egg collection, handling, storage, packaging, transportation, and hygiene. Poultry farmers should also be encouraged to participate actively in extension programmes and improve their access to suitable egg handling equipment and storage facilities.

Keywords: Extension training, poultry farmers, farmers’ adoption, egg handling, improved handling practices, poultry production, egg quality, egg collection, egg storage, egg grading, egg packaging, food safety, post-production losses, agricultural extension, poultry management.