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Vigyan Varta An International E-Magazine for Science Enthusiasts E-ISSN: 2582-9467
Popular Article
www.vigyanvarta.com Vol-2, Issue-10 Panda et. al. (2021)
Livelihood Improvement and Nutrition
Security through Family Poultry Production
A. K. Panda*, B. Sahoo and Subrat Pattanaik
ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture,
Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751003, India
Corresponding Author
A. K. Panda
Email: akpanda59@gmail.com
OPEN ACCESS
Keywords
Livelihood, Nutrition Security, Poultry
How to cite this article
Panda, A. K., Sahoo, B. and Pattanaik, S. 2021. Livelihood Improvement and Nutrition Security
through Family Poultry Production. Vigyan Varta 2(10): 57-61.
ABSTRACT
The importance of small-scale poultry farming in rural areas has been recognized globally
to alleviate poverty, hunger and malnutrition in developing countries. Family poultry is
small scale poultry keeping by households using family labour and wherever possible locally
available feed resources. Several aspects such as development of appropriate varieties of
chicken, utilization of local feed resources, availability of quality vaccines and well-trained
vaccinators, access to extension services and training programmes at village level targeting
the stakeholders, women and youth need attention for making the poultry a suitable
source of livelihood and nutrition securities of farm families in rural areas.
INTRODUCTION variety of small-scale poultry production
oultry eggs and meat provides high systems found in rural, urban and peri-urban
quality nutrients and micronutrients for areas of developing countries using native or
P improved varieties of chicken reared in
good human nutrition. Small scale extensive system. This system of poultry
poultry farming in rural areas has been production is ideally suited to rural areas where
recognized globally to alleviate poverty, hunger the conditions for a successful commercial
and malnutrition in developing countries and poultry production are not possible. Village
promote women’s empowerment at a relatively poultry are generally owned and managed by
low cost. Poultry represent an important system women and children and are often essential
to feed the fast-growing human population of elements of female-headed households. The
developing countries like India and to provide total backyard poultry in India is 313.7 million
income to poor small farmers, especially in 2019 which has increased by 45.8% over
women. Family poultry encompasses the wide previous census (Panda et al., 2020). The total
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Vigyan Varta An International E-Magazine for Science Enthusiasts E-ISSN: 2582-9467
Popular Article
www.vigyanvarta.com Vol-2, Issue-10 Panda et. al. (2021)
egg production in India is 114.38 billion It has a potential to fight poverty and
numbers and backyard poultry contribute 19.21 malnutrition and provide scope for high
billion numbers (16.8% of the total egg employment generation and solving gender
production) (Source: Economic Survey 2020- issues in employment.
21) It provides scope for organic poultry
Family Poultry farming.
Family poultry is small scale poultry keeping Importance of Family Poultry in India
by households using family labour and India has nearly 70 percent of its population
wherever possible locally available feed living in rural areas. Most of the commercial
resources. The poultry may range freely in the poultry production is concentrated in urban and
household compound and find much of their peri-urban areas in the present scenario. Just
own food, getting supplementary amounts from 25% population living in urban areas consumes
the householder. The family poultry production about 75-80 % of eggs and poultry meat. In
has been classified into mainly four systems rural areas, the poultry products are not
such as small extensive scavenging, extensive available regularly and if available sold at 20-
scavenging, semi-intensive and small-scale 30% higher price than the prices at urban and
intensive based on size of flock, management, semi urban areas (Source: DAHD, 2019). Non-
and purpose of production including degree of availability coupled with low purchasing power
commercialization and location (FAO, 2014). of the rural people devoid them of access to the
The areas are of particular importance to highly nutritious products like egg and meat.
achieve sustainable family poultry production Under this scenario, there is a great opportunity
are development of genetic resources for family poultry farming in tribal / rural sector.
appropriate to the specific conditions of Backyard poultry farming with improved
production, utilization of local feed resources chicken varieties with higher production
through different feeding techniques taking into potential than the native chickens is slowly
account the potential impact of climate change, developing in to a viable and sustainable
availability of quality vaccines and well-trained activity among the rural and tribal people for
vaccinators, a good marketing system and enhancing the nutrition and income.
access to extension services.
Advantages Family Poultry and Livelihood
It needs minimal use of land, labour and Poultry represents an important system to feed
capital. the fast-growing human population of
developing countries like India and to provide
It is easy to manage and handle. income to poor small farmers, especially
It needs little intervention in management women. Rural poultry production is a vital
contribution to food security at both the
It can easily integrate with other household and community levels. Rural poultry
agriculture, aquaculture and livestock production makes significant contribution for
farming. poverty alleviation, household nutrition
security and supplementary income in many
It can contribute to the village economy. developing countries (Alders and Pym, 2009;
Guèye, 2012). Family poultry production is
In rural areas women can operate family ideally suited to rural areas where the
poultry with maximum involvement, thus conditions for a successful commercial poultry
promotes gender equity. sector are rarely met. Family poultry are
generally owned and managed by women and
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Vigyan Varta An International E-Magazine for Science Enthusiasts E-ISSN: 2582-9467
Popular Article
www.vigyanvarta.com Vol-2, Issue-10 Panda et. al. (2021)
children and are often essential elements of Hunger Index (2020), which is calculated on the
female-headed households. Livestock and basis of total undernourishment of the
Poultry production in the rural areas is population, child stunting, wasting and child
generally considered a key asset for rural mortality, places India at the 94th spot among
livelihoods. It offers advantages over other 107 countries. According to The Global
agricultural sectors and is an entry point for Nutrition Report (2020), between 2000 and
promoting gender balance in rural areas. 2016, rates of underweight have decreased from
Poultry rearing is an age-old practice in India 66.0% to 58.1% for boys and 54.2% to 50.1%
and is an integral part of routine life in rural in girls in India. However, this is still high
areas. Small and landless farmers as well as compared to the average of 35.6% for boys and
those belonging to weaker sections, including 31.8% for girls in Asia. In addition, 37.9% of
tribal and scheduled castes people traditionally children fewer than 5 years are stunted and
keep local varieties of chicken for their 20.8% are wasted, compared to the Asia
subsistence. Rural women traditionally play an average of 22.7% and 9.4% respectively. India
important role in poultry sector and are often in is identified as among the three worst countries,
control of the whole process from feeding to along with Nigeria and Indonesia, for steep
marketing. Poultry is easy to manage, requires within-country disparities in stunting, where
few external inputs, and enjoys good market the levels varied four-fold across communities
demand and prices. By increasing women’s (Source: Global Hunger Index Report; 2020).
income, poultry farming also enhances
women’s social status and decision-making Poultry egg is an excellent source of high-
power in the household. quality protein, vitamins (except vitamin C) and
One of the major objectives of Family poultry trace minerals. Eggs are classified in the
farming in rural India is to provide better protein food group with meat, poultry, and fish.
income opportunities to the poor farmers. Egg contains 44 out of the 45 essential nutrients
Besides, it can address the issues of food for the human body. Availability, lower cost,
insecurity and malnutrition in rural areas and ease of preparation and good taste give eggs a
can empower rural women economically and deserved place in diets of humans.
socially. Of the 17 Sustainable Development Nutritionists, pediatricians and policy makers
Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global insist that eggs can assist in providing a
Goals, adopted by all United Nations Member complete and balanced diet to children. The
States in 2015, family poultry production can inclusion of eggs is recommended since egg
address the SDG1 (No Poverty- end poverty in protein also has high biological value and
all its form everywhere), SDG 2 (Zero hunger- digestibility. The National Institute of
end hunger achieve food security and improved Nutrition, which works under the aegis of the
nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture) Indian Council of Medical Research under the
and SDG 5 (Gender equality- Achieve gender Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,
equality and empower all women and girls), if made the provision of eggs compulsory in
implemented properly. (Source: UNDP, 2015 mid-day meals, as they are
SDG) considered cheaper, safer, more nutritious and
Family Poultry and Nutrition Security easier to procure than alternatives such as
milk or bananas. An egg provides about 6.9g
Studies revealed that India loses up to 4% of its wholesome protein of the highest biological
gross domestic product and 8% of its value (94), which is higher than vegetable
productivity due to child malnutrition. In spite proteins like bengal gram (76%) and soya
of decades of investment to tackle this malaise, bean (54%). An egg provides about 6 g fat. Egg
yolk contains triglycerides, phospholipids, and
India’s child malnutrition rates are still one of sterols. Hen eggs are a rich source of linoleic
the most alarming in the world. The Global
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Vigyan Varta An International E-Magazine for Science Enthusiasts E-ISSN: 2582-9467
Popular Article
www.vigyanvarta.com Vol-2, Issue-10 Panda et. al. (2021)
acid, which is essential in human nutrition. ecology (Location specific) to meet the
Traditional Indian diets are based on cereals growing demand.
(adequate in energy) but deficit in protein. Supplementary feeding - It is very
Poultry eggs and meat can provide high-quality difficult to know the activity of the birds for
protein and micronutrients in bioavailable their picking up habits and availability of
forms which, even in small quantities, feed ingredients in the extensive system of
substantially increase the nutrient adequacy of poultry rearing. Supplementary feeding
traditional cereal-based diets. Eggs are valuable utilizing locally available feed resources is
and readily acceptable in diets for the elderly essential to optimizing the production
people who may have low caloric needs but performance and economic efficiency.
have greater difficulty in digesting and
absorbing nutrients. Health measures – One of the most
Table 1. Nutritive value of chicken egg and common causes of mortality observed in
its contribution to daily nutrient village poultry farming in India is Ranikhet
requirement in humans Disease (RD). It is highly infectious among
chickens, and virulent strains can cause up
Contribution to to 100% mortality. Vaccination against
Nutrients Egg (54g) daily nutrient common poultry diseases (RD, IBD & fowl
requirement (%) pox) should be regularly practiced to
Children Adult prevent the occurrence of viral diseases.
Energy 84 kcal 7.0 3.5 Women should receive training in
Protein 6.9 g 31.4 11.5 husbandry practices and gain access to
Zinc 0.7 mcg 8.0 8.0 poultry health services as community
Copper 80mcg 4.0 4.0 vaccinator for mass vaccination and health
Manganese 10mcg 5.0 5.0 care.
Selenium 0.6mcg 11.0 11.0
Vitamin A 180 mcg 30.0 30.0 Training and extension service - Lack of
Vitamin E 1600 mcg 10.0 10.0 knowledge, experience and in sufficient
Major Issues and Approach exposure to poultry rearing are the major
bottlenecks for successful implementation
Several factors need to be addressed for making of poultry farming. Training programmes at
the family poultry a sustainable source of village level targeting the stakeholders,
supplementary income and ensuring nutritional women and youth should be organized on
security. Some of the focus points which need various aspects of poultry rearing.
major attentions are Providing extension services including
management, vaccination, disease
Suitable Chicken varieties – The diagnosis, market information and other
production potential of the native chicken inputs like supply of chicks, quality feed
varieties are very low (40-50 eggs per etc. is essential for the system to be
annum). It is therefore, essential to develop successful.
suitable germplasms for rural / backyard
production with higher production Policy Intervention – Several poultry
potential. Several chicken varieties such as related programmes are implemented by
Giriraja, Vanaraja, Gramapriya, Srinidhi, the governments to improve livelihood
CARI-Sonali, Naradanidhi, Kamarupa, etc. improvement and nutrition security of the
have been developed for family poultry poor farmers in the country. An integrated
farming. There is a need to develop more approach involving all the stakeholders is
such varieties giving emphasis on agro- the need of the hour to make it a success.
This needs a multi-disciplinary research
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