This study was aimed at examining the economic analysis of turkey production in
Kaduna and Zaria towns of Kaduna State with the specific objectives of describing the
socio-economic characteristics of the turkey farmers, determining the profitability,
estimating production function, examining resource use efficiency and identifying the
constraints to turkey production. Forty-five turkey farmers were randomly selected from
a list of fifty-five turkey farmers identified in the study area. The sampled farmers were
selected from twelve parts of Kaduna and Zaria towns where turkey production was
predominant. The data were collected from June to December 2005 by the use of oral
interview and structured questionnaires. Analysis of the data was done using a
combination of descriptive statistics, production function and net farm income analyses.
The result showed that all the turkey farmers in Kaduna and Zaria towns were engaged in
turkey production on a part-time basis. Double log production function was used to
estimate the production function for turkey production. The double log function had an
adjusted R square ( 2 R ) value of 0.79 with all the inputs (labour, feed and capital) each
being significant at 1% level of probability. The cost and return analysis indicated that
the total cost of production for an average of sixty seven turkeys was at average cost of
N99, 975. While the average returns was N186, 990. The net farm income for both towns
was N87, 015 and the rate of return on investment per naira was 87 kobo per 100 kobo
invested. Thus one Naira invested on an average of sixty seven turkeys within the period
of eight months will yields 187% indicating that turkey production was profitable in the
study area. Even though turkey production was economically viable in Kaduna and Zaria
towns, the problems that were found limiting expansion of the enterprise include poor
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marketing services, high cost of feed/feed ingredient, high cost of poults, inadequate
credit, fake and high cost of drugs, vaccine and veterinary services, and lack of extension
services. It was recommended that producers should target production maturity to high
demand periods to cob seasonality in marketing of turkeys and their products.
Furthermore, farmers should be trained to formulate their own feeds to minimize cost and
adulteration of commercial feeds. More hatcheries should be built by individuals, private
and government organisations to minimize the cost of poults and to enhance their
qualities.