Assessment of compliance with Good Agricultural Practices in pig farming in Mpwapwa and Mbulu districts, Tanzania

AbstractA cross-sectional study was conducted between February and May 2022 to explore the pig farming practices and assess their compliance with Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and their associated constraints in Mpwapwa and Mbulu districts. A total of 136 pig farmers were randomly chosen from purposively selected wards for interview using a structured questionnaire. The study revealed that 71.3% of all pig farmers were aware of GAPs on pig farming, but only 19.8% of the pig farmers complied with the stipulated GAPs. About 81.6% of the respondents had poor piggery hygiene and 76.5% had poor piggery conditions. Pig farmers reported the cost of feeds (83.8%) and veterinary services (81.6%) to be the hindrance to compliance with GAPs. It was concluded that pig farmers are aware of GAPs but not all implement them. Limited availability and high costs of pig feeds and veterinary services are among the factors limiting the full implemantation of GAP in pig farming in the Mpwapwa and Mbulu districts. Therefore, there is a need for the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development and private investors to collaborate to ensure accessibility to Agro-vet services in rural areas with minimal cost. A positive effect could also result from encouraging pig farmers to use locally available ingredients to compose pig feeds