Backyard poultry system: A boon to rural livelihood

Abstract

Nowadays, backyard poultry has been given impetus for improving rural livelihood. It is mainly concentrated in vast rural areas featured by low input and output scavenging, with minimal investment in housing, feeding, watering and health care. It is dominated by indigenous chickens that subject to significant adaptation to local environments. Different breeds and strains of poultry have been developed over the year for backyard poultry system and performing well in field conditions. Besides it can give employment to the rural small scale and marginal farmers and also play an important role in women empowerment. However development and enhancement of superior strains of backyard poultry can remarkably improve nutritional status and income of rural communities. Recent innovations in poultry sciences and related fields hold a bright future for poultry production in India.