Empirical Assessment of Environmental and Health Risks in Intensive Poultry Production in Kwara State, Nigeria

The study was designed to assess the environmental and health risks arising from intensive poultry production in Kwara State, Nigeria. A total of 120 poultry farmers in Kwara State under the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) were selected randomly for the study, and structured questionnaires were administered. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and the linear regression. The study revealed that about 79.5% of the poultry farmers were literate, having completed at least a tertiary educational level. In addition, the results showed that the environmental and health issues were significant during production and processing. It was further revealed that the type of battery cage used and educational level of the farmers were positively significant, while the year of establishment was negatively significant when it comes to the adoption practices. This implies that the higher the level of education, the more likely farmers adopt improved practices. Moreover, it was observed that the majority of the poultry farmers do not abide by the environmental and public health laws and regulations; therefore, it is recommended that government should enforce strict supervisory agencies of the sanitation/health policies aiming at environmental preservation and protection.