Poultry farming and farmers perception towards the farming condition during COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is threating global public health and has declared as a pandemic crisis around the world. An attempt was made to ascertain the effect of COVID-19 on practices in poultry farming (PPF), problem faced for poultry farming (PFPF) and poultry farmer's perception on COVID-19. A questionnaire based cross-sectional study was conducted among 397 poultry farmers during the period of October to December 2020 in selected area of Bangladesh. The PPF score at just prior and during of the COVID-19 was 7.11 ± 3.25 and 6.53 ± 3.12 having significant difference (p < 0.01). But, the training on poultry farming can improve the PPF score at just prior (7.57 ± 3.20) and during (6.91 ± 3.13) of the COVID-19. Additionally, the mean PFPF score was found of 10.67 ± 6.15. In logistic regression analysis, the farmers of ≥18–29 years aged and had no training were 0.42 (95% CI:0.20–0.88; p < 0.01) and 0.58 (95% CI:0.35–0.98; p < 0.05) times respectively less likely to have satisfactory score on PPF. Similarly, the farmers of ≥18 to 29 and ≥ 40–49 years aged were 2.52 (95% CI:1.36–4.69; p < 0.01) and 2.08 (95% CI:1.12–3.87; p < 0.05) times respectively more likely to have considerable score on PFPF than the farmers of other age group. Interestingly, the internet users had 2.51 (95% CI:0.95–6.57; p < 0.05) times higher to have more satisfactory PPF score (≥60%). Moreover, the farmers of ≥18–29 years aged, masters level education and had training, significantly (p < 0.01) thought the COVID-19 is more dangerous indicated by the higher median (median = 8). In conclusion, the PPF and PFPF score was significantly varied by demographical characteristics of farmers. Therefore, the farmers had the concept about COVID-19 and more than 75% of them believe that COVID-19 doesn't transmit from poultry.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• Poultry
• Farming
• Practises
• Perception and risk