Impacts of tribal family poultry development project in Madhya Pradesh

The present study examined the impact of a tribal family development poverty eradication project in Madhya Pradesh India. A total of 68 tribal families were surveyed from 5 villages of Rewa district who were the beneficiaries of the project. The key survey questions were on socio-economic livelihood impact of the project, continuation of the activities and distribution benefits of the income. The results showed that more women (53 females: 16 males) of the age between 18–50 years adopted poultry, duck and broilers as new vocation in the ratio of 14: 06: 48, respectively. Indigenous chicken supported by technical, medical and marketing intervention not only stabilized the population but provided additional monthly income of Rs. 520.00 (USA $ 8.39) over that from the old job. Khaki Compbell ducks (10–15 ducks: 2 drakes group) laid on an average 120–140 egg, added additional gains of Rs. 826.0 (USA $ 13.3) per month. Vencob broiler keeping was taken up by married women and males below the age of 30 years. Monthly income for entrepreneur of 3 villages rose by Rs. 547.0 & 635 and Rs. 729, respectively. On an average the additional monthly gain earned was Rs. 651.0 (U.S. $ 10.5) irrespective of genotype/species kept by the beneficiaries. The drop out were only four families.

The expenditure on food was 46.1 percent followed by guest (26.6%), clothes (26.1%), living (16.9%), health (16.1%) and habits (13.4%). The Liquor, smoking and tobaco-chewing prevailed with the increment of income. The illetracy was 67.6 percent, However, the positive aspect was partly loosing of the spiral of extreme poverty/exploitation, which was attributed to additional income of streedhan resulting in women empowerment in family affairs and participation in social and political field.