Proceedings of the 40th International Academic Conference, Stockholm

REQUIREMENTS FOR DECISION ENHANCEMENT FOR POULTRY FARMERS: A CASE OF EAST AFRICA

REBECCA PEARL TUMWEBAZE, HENK SOL, DORIS KAKURU

Abstract:

Because of agriculture’s direct link to global food security, it is strategically important. This research recognizes the importance of a paradigm shift from subsistence to commercial agriculture for East Africa to advance this strategic importance. This shift has particularly had significant impact on the poultry industry. In East Africa, commercial poultry farming has steadily taken root over the last decade albeit the challenge of inadequate farm management competences among farmers which has been aggravated by lack of systems and approaches to enhance effective and efficient decision making among poultry farmers in the region. The focus of this study therefore is how decision processes of poultry farmers can be enhanced so that they are able to efficiently monitor and manage their operations as they seek to take advantage of the trend of commercialisation of the poultry industry. This paper explores the decision making practices of poultry farmers with an aim of enhancing these decisions for improved productivity of poultry farms in the region. The key research question this study seeks to address is: How can decision making among poultry farmers in East Africa be enhanced?

Keywords: Decision making, Decision Enhancement, Studio, Design Science

DOI: 10.20472/IAC.2018.040.063

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