12. a. Unavailability of good germplasm Heavy demand for backyard chicken varieties. Non-availability of broody hens Suggestion: Research efforts. b. Unvailability of feed BYC could not sustain only on scavenging. Need for the provision of small quantity of compounded layer feed for good performance. Cost of feed is more- Inadequate transportation facilities,Labour cost . Suggestion: Making the feed available in the rural areas in small packs of 5 or 10 kgs is essential.
13. c. Veterinary and health services: Non-availability of veterinary aid at the village level. Scarce skilled workforce for vaccination Threat from New Castle Disease Suggestion: Improved veterinary services with disease prevention programmes should be implemented. Emphasis for supply of immunized birds d. Predators: Predator attack especially in chick stage. Suggestion: Initial growing in the nurseries before distribution. Should be protected with nets.
14. e. Limited Scavenging area: Small and marginal farmers are the main growers of backyard chicken, therefore, scavenging area is found to be the limiting factor. Suggestion: Suitable package of recommendations for rear the birds in semi-intensive system so that number of birds per households can be raised within the available land area.
15. f. Resistance from the neighbours: Suggestions: Modified rearing systems instead of total free-range system of rearing. Good rapport g. Government Partnership The involvement of Govt. agencies to implement area specific projects to fit the needs of different localities in terms of germplasm, feed, veterinary services etc. Area specific tailor-made projects needed
16. h. Marketing The backyard poultry products fetches higher price and are in heavy demand. Suggestion: creation of farmer’s co-operative societies at village levels. egg collection and marketing through cooperatives bodies for price fixation should be there
17. i. Biosecurity issues At present highly pathogenic avian influenza is a serious constraint to family poultry production, which requires mass destruction of the poultry of the outbreak locality. Suggestions: Programmes to prevent such outbreaks and methods to be adopted in such exigencies. Awareness programmes Vaccination programmes
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19. Strategies for development of backyard poultry system in India awareness building training systematic planning
20. Introduction of a dual-purpose bird with a black barred brown plumage (eg. Krishna-J female x Synthetic male, Jabalpur) higher genetic potential resembling the ‘Desi’ (indigenous) birds in their physical characteristics. hardiness and color, egg laying capacity of 120-130 nos. per year in the scavenging (free ranging) system, and 220-240 nos. per year in the intensive system ( Krishna-J female) body weight of 1 kgms. in 6-8 weeks. The egg weight at 40 weeks age would be 50-51 gms having a tinted brown colored eggshell, similar to that of an egg of the ‘Desi’ bird.
21. Develop BYP as a group activity by training a few women as vaccinators and some for manufacturing low cost feed formulations at the village level. Maximum mortality occurs in the young chick stage. Proper awareness should be given in the simple management skills like covering the bamboo baskets with news paper or cow dung for insulation during brooding and protection in winters, creep feeding, low-cost balanced feed formulations, awareness about hygiene for feeding and watering of birds, burning of a lamp or charcoal burner inside the brooder in winter to give warmth to the chicks.
22. Enhance BYP as a rural cottage industry. Basic minimum medical facility is made available locally. BYP should be considered as a viable ‘semi-organized’ venture by the national and international development agencies as an element of economic development in rural areas.
23. Other suggestions based on the problems Availability of quality Germplasm Supplementation of feed Supply of Immunized birds Improved veterinary services Farmers must be provided with grownup birds Government-NGO-SHG-LSG Institution Partnership Strong Governmental support Efforts for Conservation of indigenous birds
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32. “ Production is not the application of tools to materials, but the logic to work ” Peter F. Drucker