Vol. 8, Special Issue 5 (2023)

Author(s): Preeti Verma, Naresh Kumar Agarwal, DV Singh and Shashank Gaur

Abstract: Backyard poultry rearing is one of the most efficient livestock enterprises to increase income and employment with improved livelihood security. Furthermore, it also plays an important role for providing food security especially nutritional security. Both egg and poultry products, being a rich source of macro and micro nutrients, have a potential role in treating and curing malnutrition, anaemia, night blindness and many more nutritional deficiencies induced diseases. As a high source of bio-available protein and iron, it is a suitable food for sports person. Backyard poultry rearing requires minimum inputs making it most suitable for Tribal community for their economic, social and nutritional upliftment. In the present study, the poultry birds of Kadaknath breed has been demonstrated in Tribal families of Tonk district of Rajasthan under Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) programme. Total number of 1000 poultry birds of Kadaknath breed were provided to 80 tribal families belonging to six villages, Negadia, Mudia, Ghasdi, Bhanakpura, Radhakishanpura and Jalsena of Tonk district of Rajasthan. Before providing poultry birds, Trainings were also organized for the tribal farm women on rearing of Kadaknath breed. Total 80 beneficiaries were selected from these villages for data analysis. Number of eggs laid by Kadaknath breed, average body weight of hen and Cock (kg), consumption pattern of eggs and Chicken at household level, number of chicks sold and total income generated has been assessed. Impact of backyard poultry rearing on the change of the life style of Tribal families was also assessed. The results of the studies showed that Backyard poultry rearing showed significant positive relationship in increasing their income and improving their living of standard with nutritional security.