Empowering tribal livelihoods: Backyard poultry intervention in Adilabad, Telangana

Kumar, V., Prakash, B., Prince, L.L.L. and Rajkumar, U. 2023. Empowering tribal livelihoods: Backyard poultry intervention in Adilabad, Telangana. Indian Journal Poultry Science, 58(3): 295–300.

The major emphasis of the study was to create an alternative and supportive source of income, food security, enhancing the animal protein availability and employment generation in tribal population of Adilabad, Telangana. A longitudinal time series analysis was conducted among 34 beneficiaries with semi-structured interview schedule. Majority of respondents were middle age group, illiterate, medium sized land holders and involved in agriculture along with animal husbandry. Farmers were rearing birds on scavenging and regular grain/ kitchen waste supplementation. Vanaraja birds laid 100–120 eggs in a year and male birds attained body weight of 1.25 kg at 4 months of age. The perception of farmers about disease incident, escape from predator attack and market demand was poorer for Vanaraja than local birds. In last two years, average household income through poultry increased from ₹ 250 to 760 and major contributors were flock size and reduced mortality by predators. The value of birds saved from predator after application of night shelter was calculated ₹ 2656 in every year/househoId. All these lead to increased egg consumption from 3.08 to 8.6 eggs/ week. Chicken meat consumption increased by 1 to 3.3 birds/month/household) (230%) and one extra man-day employment/ month/household was also created. The study concluded that, the intervention of backyard poultry in tribal village had significant improvement in the income, animal protein consumption, food security, livelihood conditions, etc.