Analysis of farm management skills in small scale broiler poultry producers in Botswana

This quantitative study analyzed farm management skills among smallscale broiler poultry producers in Botswana.The study adopted an exploratory and descriptive survey research design. Seven areas of farm management skills namely; planning skills, accounting and financial management skills, production management skills, product procurement and marketing skills, decision making skills, risk management skills, and specific technical skills were analysed. A valid and reliable questionnaire composed of 63 closed-end statements/items under seven areas of farm management skills was used for data collection through a survey of 60 randomly sampled small scale poultry farm operators in Botswana. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistical tools whereby the level of farm management skills were determined by calculating means and standard deviations of the management skill. Findings revealed that the broiler producers had skills above average level only in specific technical skills whereas the skill levels in the remaining six farm management skills were found below the average level. Therefore, in order to improve the efficiency and productivity of broiler farming, it was recommended that the small scale broiler poultry producers should be adequately trained in areas of planning skills, financial management skills, production management skills, product procurement and marketing skills, decision making skills and risk management skills.