Farming Systems and Production Potentials of Thai Native Chickens of Farmers in Phayao Province

Abstract

This study aimed to characterize the Thai native chicken production systems and the production potentials of farmers in Phayao province and also to investigate the distribution and local market consumption of Thai native chicken meat. The study was carried out in 9 districts of Phayao province with the participation of 155 households. Data were collected in   2014 by using 3 structural interviews include questionnaires about the production system, the distribution and marketing system, and the consumers’ needs. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the data. The results showed that number of native chickens in Phayao was approximately 1.37 million and the average number per household was 31.28 birds. Farmer networking in Phayao was categorized into 2 different groups; 21 general farmer networks and 7 community enterprise networks. The survey revealed that 82.60% of farmer needed to develop their skill about feed management and 7.25% about the marketing and 10.15% about others skills such as diseases, and farm management. Ninety percent of the respondent raised the chickens under semi-free range condition and 42.50% fed chickens with corn and rice without formulated. Farmers sold the chicken by person to person purchase for 48.49%, and 39.39% of farmer sold live chicken in local market. The consumers generally brought the chicken as a whole part (67.25%) while 49.25 percent bought chicken for eating at home. The study about the supply chain of Thai native chicken in Phayao province is needed in order to use as information for the development of Thai native chicken production of the community.