Socio-Economic Importance of Solar Energy Application in Poultry Production System

Solar energy is a renewable, inexhaustible and affordable form of energy that could help mitigate climate change in poultry production systems. Its application as an emerging technology in poultry production systems is not common among the Nigerian poultry farmers. This paper presents a survey of poultry farms in Enugu State, Southeast, Nigeria. The purpose of the survey was to ascertain the status of solar energy application in Poultry production systems in the state. A survey was conducted on the methods farmers use in poultry day-old chicks brooding technology. A total of 60 poultry farms were selected at random for the survey. Data was collected using a 25 structured questionnaire items. It was observed that two types of poultry brooding methods were in use by the poultry farmers. These were conventional method (the use of fossil fuel and electric power), and non-conventional method (the use of solar energy) respectively. Survey results showed that out of 60 respondents 25% and 65% used kerosene, and combined electric/kerosene brooding methods in their brooding operations respectively. Only 10% of the respondents have used solar energy technology in their poultry brooding operations. The average mortality rates were 22.38%, 12.17% and 2.97% for kerosene, combined electric/kerosene, and solar energy respectively, while US$474.54, US$2,456.34 and US$49.1, were the respective average energy cost implications for each brooding methods eight times in a year. Solar energy was observed to have the lowest mortality rate and the least energy cost implications among the rest. Further response from the farmers showed inadequate power supply, greenhouse gas emission, fire outbreak and low profit margins characterized kerosene, and the combined electric/kerosene usage while solar energy application was observed to be environmentally and user friendly with low mortality rate and low energy cost.  Solar energy utilization therefore appears the most attractive option because of the advantages it has over others. Its use in poultry brooding production will improve and enhance environmental air quality, healthy chicks’ production with higher profit margins. Its wide application in poultry production in Enugu State, Nigeria however, demands sensitization and educational awareness among the stakeholders.