Constraints faced by women poultry farmers in backyard poultry rearing: A case study of Dimapur district, Nagaland, India

Abstract:

India is primarily an agrarian country that depends largely on agriculture, animal husbandry and allied sectors for livelihood. Among these, poultry farming has emerged as a significant agribusiness activity contributing to poverty alleviation, food security and employment generation in rural areas. In addition to providing a reliable source of nutrition in the form of eggs and meat, it also serves as an important source of income for millions of people. The present study was undertaken to assess the ‘Constraints faced by women poultry farmers in Dimapur district of Nagaland, India. A field survey was conducted in Chumukedima block and Dhansiripar block of Dimapur district, covering a total of 100 respondents (50 from each block) selected randomly. Primary data were collected through personal interviews using a structured schedule and analyzed using descriptive statistics and ranking methods. The findings revealed that a majority of the respondents (51.00%) belonged to the middle-aged group and 35.00% had a graduate level of formal education. All respondents (100%) were female, confirming the study’s focus on women poultry farmers. Most respondents (41.25%) belonged to medium-sized families (5-9 members) and (54.00%) had a medium level of farming experience. Regarding occupation, (40.00%) of the respondents were engaged in business, while (33.00%) pursued poultry farming as their primary occupation. The majority (76.00%) maintained a small flock size and (56.00%) reared poultry in single-level sheds. Furthermore, (68.00%) of the respondents had kuccha or temporary sheds and a large proportion (81.00%) raised poultry primarily for meat production. Analysis of constraints showed that the most serious problem faced by women poultry farmers was attack by predators followed by unavailability of improved chick varieties, high chick mortality, lack of vaccination facilities and inadequate technical support. Lack of easy access to veterinary services was found to be a relatively minor constraint.