Backyard poultry farming-a sustainable livelihoods option for rural women: Constraints and way forward

The study was conducted in four villages surrounding the Khalsi Wetland of Nadia district of West Bengal to identify the role of backyard poultry in livelihood improvement of the rural women and the constrains perceived by the women in backyard poultry farming. A total of 80 numbers of female respondents were selected from villages and they are provided with 21 no of RIR chicks in the first year. Prior training on backyard poultry rearing was imparted to the beneficiaries. Data were collected on the socio-economy; financial gain by the beneficiaries as well as the constraints faced by them to rear poultry birds in backyards. The cost benefit ratio was found 1.97. A total of 32 constraints under the seven major categories could be identified. Financial constraints followed by the spatial constraints were found to be the greatest barrier for this backyard poultry farming. Targeted credit facility such as micro financing for women, supply of feed and medicine, advanced training, localized market facilities may help in mitigating the constraints.