Backyard Poultry Farming for Economic Empowerment of Rural Women - A Case Study of Rural SHGs by Sird, Assam

Abstract

The practice of taking up economic activities through Self Help Groups is still in the infant stage in Assam although success stories are not altogether aloof. The SIRD embarked upon a massive awareness campaign to popularize backyard poultry among the rural women both as food item and also as a source of income through rural SHGs around socio economic activities. There is a wide gap between demand and supply in the egg production in Assam. Indigenous breeds in the state have very low egg laying capacity and so they contribute very less to the household economy. Rearing of duck in backyard condition is a traditional activity in rural Assam. To give a new face lift to this traditional activity, the SIRD introduced Chara Chamballi duck in association with Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur. More than 16000 families have been assisted to take up backyard Chara Chamballi duck for egg production. Focus of this effort was to create employment opportunities through backyard poultry farming in the rural areas of the state wherein unemployment opportunity has assumed a crucial dimension. The research paper focuses on the initiative taken by SIRD towards women entrepreneurship development in Assam particularly towards backyard poultry farming and find out the contribution of the institute towards economic growth of the state.