A double-hurdle model estimation of adoption and intensity of use of poultry production technologies in Machakos County, Kenya

Poultry production technologies adoption, such as improved Indigenous Chicken (IC) breeds and fabricated brooders, remain a viable option for enhancing IC productivity. However, the uptake of improved IC technologies remains low, especially in developing countries. This study investigated the adoption and intensity of the use of IC technologies in Machakos County, Kenya. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey to collect data from 374 households selected through a multi-stage sampling technique. A structured questionnaire and focus group discussion were employed, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Double-Hurdle model. The double hurdle results revealed that farmer experience, land size, non-farm activities, group membership, access to credit, awareness of IC technologies, and use of intensive/semi-intensive production systems were positively associated with IC technology adoption. However, household size was negatively associated with IC technology adoption. The intensity of use of IC technology was positively associated with gender, active labor, credit access, distance to the weather roads, and intensive production system. The study recommends that there is a need for agricultural stakeholders to promote membership in farmer associations and credit access, create awareness of IC technology, and improve opportunities for non-farm activities to help improve the adoption and intensity of the use of IC technologies. The integration of improved Indigenous Chicken (IC) technologies plays an essential role in bridging the existing demand for white meat in developing nations. The present popularity of the indigenous chicken is due to the ease of feed conversion, the organic nature of production, scavenging ability, and delicious products. Despite the increased demand, the rate of uptake of the improved IC technologies remained low. The findings underscore the crucial role of human-specific, economic, and institutional factors in determining the decision and intensity of IC technologies in the arid and semi-arid lands of Kenya. The focus should be on targeted interventions such as programs suited to the requirements of the region's farmers, increasing access to credit and extension services, and campaigning for supporting government policies and programs that stimulate the use of improved IC technologies.