Strategies for Promotion of Improved Native Chicken Strain in Rural Family Poultry: Evidence from Rural households of Ramanathapuram district

The rural backyard poultry although losing its importance under the impact of modernization and industrialization, is still prevalent in rural and tribal areas of the country (Ahlawat, 2013). An ex-post facto study was conducted in cluster of four villages of Ramanathapuram for accessing the impact of improved variety of chicken in dry land area among the rural household. The data the data regarding socio-personal variables, aspiration toward choice of variety, intervention adopted and liking of interventions through pre-tested interview schedule. The descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. All the respondents surveyed were rearing the improved variety for egg production for household purpose. Majority of the respondents expressed their interest in procuring and rearing improved variety. The major constraints perceived by the respondents were injury among the birds due to pecking behavior and mortality of chicks due to RD and Pox. It can be concluded that there was appreciable change in KASA of adoption of recommended practices but no practice changes were noticed among respondents in adopting disease preventive measures. It can be suggested from the study that farmers ’preference in choice of improved variety (which variety?) should be taken into account while distribution of BYP, Providing pre-intervention formal training may enhance better adoption of improved scientific practices and BYPfarmers should be promoted to raise desi chicks for brooding the eggs of the improved variety of BYP.