Role of backyard poultry for enhancing socio-economic status and health of marginal/landless farmers

Abstract

Backyard poultry has been practiced long back in the country for obtaining high value protein to poor farmers and removal of hungry, mal-nutrition and poverty among the poor farmers/villagers. District Barabanki PRA survey revealed the meagre low economics and malnutrition of the existing farmers. A on farm trials on backyard poultry at five locations in different villages conducted by KVK scientists has got promising result with 182 large size dark brownish colour eggs weighing about 52.5 gms/bird per year of poultry breed Rhode Island Red as compared with native breed or non-descript fowl. The bird picks up the fallen grains, kitchen waste along with dung pits/water channel insect and their larvae, earthworms. 55 Gms. poultry feed (rice/wheat grains), few amount of chopped onion, berseem and fresh drinking water were provided in the shelter houses made of locally available shade materials.