dc.description.abstract | This study was carried out from January to June
1988-with an-objective of determining the nature of
influence that expected (futures), producer and feed
prices, seasonality, time and the number of sows
available for breeding have on the supply of hogs.
Hog supply has not been meeting demand. As a
result, Kenya has changed from a net exporter of hog
products to an importer of hogs to satisfy the demand.
Farmers realise less income when they supply fewer hogs.
According to ·the findings, futures and producer
price variab1es have the largest influence on the number
of hogs supplied. The producer prices of hogs have not
been meeting farmers' expectations and that partly
explains the declining trend in production.
The domestic production and marketing environments
have not been encouraging supply of hogs either. Input
costs and unreliability of some marketing channels have
pushed several farmers out of the industry.
To rectify the situation, it is necessary to
restructure the pricing and payment system. Higher
producer prices based on live weight of the hog should
be given to the farmers. In this regard, the farmers
Should come to get the rand form co - operatives so that they
can be in a better bargaining position for better prices.
Policy makers should give due consideration to
the live8tock industry while reviewing producer prices for
cereals if the hog industry is to stabilize. Cereals
are important inputs in hog farming. | en |