Input and Service Delivering Systems through Contract Poultry Farming in Pune District

The relative economics of contract and non-contract poultry farms has been studied and the problems faced by contract farmers and sponsors [Venkateshwara Hatcheries Group Ltd. (VHGL)] has been identified. The data used in the study pertained to the year 2006 and were updated to the current prices. The contracting firm generally preferred middle-aged, educated and experienced farmers having small and medium landholdings, with a fair number of family members from a cluster of villages. Assured price, market, technology and inputs provided by the sponsors are found to be the major motivating forces for adopting contract farming. The net-income per bird has been found to be almost double in contract farming. The resultant output-input ratio over the total cost has been found to be higher in contract farmers (1:18) than in non-contract farmers (1:11). The study has suggested that contract poultry farming should be made more popular by dissemination of its merits.