Impact of backyard poultry farming on living standard of tribal farmers in Sirohi district of Rajasthan

This study was carried out in Sirohi district of Rajasthan. A multi-stage random sampling procedure was used to select 120 respondents from three villages of two blocks. A structured interview schedule duly pre-tested and validated was used to elicit information from the respondents during 2018–19. Data were analysed using frequency and percentage Backyard poultry farming plays a very important role in tribal areas in providing nutritional support, employment opportunities, improving rural income besides meeting consumer demands. The findings revealed that majority (65 per cent) of the tribal poultry farmers belonged to middle age group and 47.50 percent of them had of primary level of education. 54.16 per cent of the respondents owned kaccha to semi-pucca house and 69.16 per cent of the tribal farmers had in possession of less than eight animals besides poultry. Whereas, 65 per cent of the tribal farmers possess less than equal to 25 numbers of indigenous poultry. But, 90 per cent of the farmers reported that the backyard poultry was their secondary occupation. Analysis of data revealed that 40 per cent of the respondents had land holding of less than 1 acre and only 6.66 per cent of the respondents had annual income of above one lakh rupees. Later on, this income generated from backyard poultry rearing was invested for household, poultry production and recreation purposes depending upon the felt needs.