Determinants of Household Demand for Poultry and Livestock Products in Awka South Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria

The study investigated the demand for protein products which are chicken, pork and fish among urban households in Awka Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study examined the socio-economic characteristics of the consumers (household heads), estimated the determinants of demand for the different products, estimated the elasticity of the different products and identified the factors affecting demand for the products. The study used primary data sources. Data were collected through the use of a structured questionnaire. A multistage technique was used to select 120 respondents for the study. The data collected were analyzed using both descriptive statistics such as percentages, means and inferential statistics such as multiple regression model. The results of the socio-economic characteristics show that 60.0% of the sampled respondents in the study area were males, while 40.0% were females. Furthermore, 36.0% of the respondents were single, while 53.0% were married and others (separated and divorced) were 11%. An overwhelming majority (96.0%) of the respondents had formal education. The factors that influenced the monthly demand expenditure on chicken were the price of chicken and other protein types; livestock farming, and total expenditure on non-animal protein consumption at 1%, 10%,1% and 5% respectively. The factors that affect monthly demand for pork were household size, age of household head, years spent in school and non-animal (plant) protein consumption, these were significant at 1% levels of significance. More so, factors that affected the demand for fish were the age of household head, livestock farming and total expenditure on food, these were significant at 1%,5% and 5% respectively. The result shows that the demands for chicken, pork and fish were inelastic. Chicken meat, pork and fish had positive cross-elasticity values. This shows the substitution of the different protein products. Price of products during the festival period, income and population were the most critical factors that affected the demand for chicken, pork and fish products in the study area. It is therefore recommended that a government price intervention programme should be introduced to stabilize the fluctuation in prices of animal protein sources.