Network Intelligence Studies (Jun 2020)
AN ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF POULTRY EGG SECTOR IN KOSOVO
Abstract
Through this study, the authors aimed to analyze the economic statement of the poultry egg sector in Kosovo. Based on the data from the Agency for Agricultural Development in Kosovo, there are registered 56 poultry egg farms, and the common scale of a poultry egg farm is small. The survey method was used in data gathering. A sample of 21 poultry egg farms was selected based on a systematic selection. Data was collected through a semi-structured questionnaire using a face-to-face interview with farmers in the poultry egg sector on the territory of Kosovo. The results of the study were determined by using descriptive statistics, costs, profits, profitability ratios and identifying the major egg farming problems based on the frequency of farmer responses. The findings showed that poultry egg production is profitable. After the cost and returns measurements, it can be concluded that farms were cost-effective and lucrative as a result. On the other hand, large farm sizes have a stronger net profit margin compared with the other sampled farms. Poultry egg farms resulted in a cost-effective and lucrative operating sector. Medium egg farms turned out to be the most profitable among the three sampled farm sizes. From the total sampled farmers, there was only one female farmer and the others were male farmers, the majority of which were under the age of 40, associated with high school level and with approximately 17 years of farm experience, thus none of the sampled farmers was illiterate. Farmers engaged in egg production were not satisfied with market prices, high feed cost, import, shortage of electricity and isolation of the farm. The study recommended that farmers should improve poultry farm buildings, make better management practices, have more control in the supply chain and provide them with low-interest loans.
