Evaluation of the constraints to backyard poultry farming in Karnataka

Abstract

The study was undertaken to identify the constraints perceived by backyard poultry farmers in Bidar district of North Karnataka, India. The constraints were recorded by means of personal interview using a structured schedule and a multistage stratified sampling procedure. A total of 150 respondents from Bidar district formed the study group. Data from the schedules was compiled and analysed using the Garrett’s ranking technique for major constraints and the Likert’s Scale technique for minor constraints to identify the most important constraints which influence the rearing of backyard poultry. Problems in health care were found to be the most important constraint faced by backyard poultry farmers with a mean Garrett score of 56.52. The other major constraint categories, in decreasing order were found to be production problems (51.34), marketing problems (50.33), general problems (49.05) and feeding problems (45.17). Among the minor constraint groups, low hatchability, low body weight gain, lack of feed availability, poor quality of feed, high disease incidence, distant veterinary facilities, low demand in summer, lack of desi bird consumption, attack by predators and theft were perceived to be the most important.