Abstract

The study was conducted at selected districts of East Showa zone namely; Adami Tulu Jido Kombolcha and Fentale districts with an objective of identifying problems limiting goat production at the area, to identify constraints and opportunities of goat production of the area and generating   information for development practitioners working in the area. The sampled district was selected based on the potential of goat production of the zone. Two kebele per district were selected. 15 to 20 key informant farmers were identified with development workers per sampled kebele for group discussion. Both female and male households invited for group discussion. Appropriate Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools were identified and used for the study. A mix of PRA tools like group discussion, key informant interviews, pair wise ranking and seasonal calendar were employed for data collection and analysis. The PRA result was analyzed by descriptive statistics by using PRA tools. The study result indicates that, goat production is one of the major livelihood activities for the goat keepers of the area. In addition, it is used as household consumption (milk, butter and meat), generating income serves as wealth storage, and social values/ social gathering. Different problems like diseases (sheep and goat pox, diarrhea, ecto-parasite, circling disease and Mastitis, CCPP, anthrax, pasteurellosis, FMD), shortage of feeds, and lack of awareness on small ruminant fattening extension packages like concentrate supplementation and housing managements, market  related problems, lack of awareness on inbreeding concepts and its effect, long kidding interval and Cu- deficiency are the major problems identified by the current study, which limits goat production in the area. Based on this finding, the study recommends that creating of wider awareness for farmers on goat production packages majorly, fattening extension packages, strengthening of veterinary services, reducing of inbreeding through awareness creation and/or introduction of cross breeds are some of the areas that needs to be improved. The study further recommends that, improving of animal feeds is the other major focus areas that needs to be giving due attention by stakeholders working in the area.

Key words: Participatory rural appraisal (PRA), Ethiopia, pair wise ranking.

Abbreviation

CSA, Central statistical authority; EPaRDA, Ethiopian pastoral research and development association; ESGPIP, Ethiopian sheep and goat productivity improvement program; DA, development agents; oARD, office of agriculture and rural development; MOA, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; NARS, National Agricultural Research System; OARI, Oromia Agricultural Research Institute;PRA, Participatory rural appraisal; FMD, foot and mouth disease; CCPP, contagious caprine pleuropneumonia; PPR, pest des petites ruminants.