Without participation of women, the rural economy cannot be sustainable. For the economy to improve and prosper women’s empowerment becomes a prerequsite.
Women are the real workforce both at home and in the farm combining a multitude of activities. Even if uneducated, they are naturally endowed with native wisdom. In this sector, especially tribal women have remained vulnerable to monetary strains.
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To help this neglected sector become financially independent the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (Tanuvas) started a scheme on commercialisation of desi bird farming as a livelihood option among the tribal women in Keeraikadu, Mottukadu, Puttur, Pelakkadu and Arangam hamlets of Yercuad Hills.
“As most of them are illiterate and unable to attend formal training courses leaving their domestic responsibilities, these women are not in a position to adopt new technologies. Among various options discussed we found that desi chicken rearing could be taken up by them without any difficulty and we started the initiative to introduce them to this scheme and through a participatory market chain approach, brooding, hatching, breeding, diseases-control and marketing were also facilitated by us since 2012,”says Dr. C. Chandrahasan, Director of Extension Education, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Madhavaram, Chennai.
The beneficiaries were supplied with breedable desi birds (chicks), limited feed, poultry cages, vaccines, deworming drugs, feeder, drinkers etc.
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For better linkages, value chain networking and feed, product branding and formation of desi bird producer groups with a membership of 104 tribal women beneficiaries was created.
FederationThe involvement of the women and the income benefits obtained have resulted in the formation of a federation called “Navamalar Nattukozhi Valarpoor Mahalir Kuttamaippu” which is being governed by the elected representatives among the members.
The progress of the federation is also monitored through regular meetings. Till date three such meetings have been organised.
“The group-based approach has been highly helpful in sustaining desi chicken production in tribal hamlets. The scheme has been instrumental in developing new institutional arrangement for brooding, health care and hatching of eggs,” explains Dr. Chandrahasan.
Service providersWomen members have been identified and trained as community vaccinators for vaccination, deworming and tick control. These workers are providing services at the door step of beneficiaries at a minimal cost.
Based on the local issues for brooding (such as electricity and requirement of day old chicks in few numbers per member) the supply of chicks was made available through community brooding centres.
In order to avoid poor hatchability due to power failures and difficulties in brooding of few chicks, community brooding centres were established in group members' homes.
“Based on the requirement of chicks for each beneficiary the chicks were purchased and brooded in single brooding unit in one of the homes and distributed on need basis. In order to cut the higher costs of chicks which were procured from outside a community incubator was also established,” he says. The incubators were equipped with a solar backup system to overcome electricity failure. For sustaining and promoting this livelihood credit support is also provided from internal savings of the groups and also linking them up with some banks.
MarketingFor marketing the eggs, chicks and adult birds a direct market outlet facility has been established at Yercaud town.
In addition, market support through Uzhavar Santhai (farmer’s market) and facilitation with other marketing channels is presently being explored.
This scheme has proved that compared to other livestock like cattle or pigs, poultry sector provides supplementary employment and sustainable source of income at an affordable cost.
For more details contact Dr. C. Chandrahasan, Director of Extension Education Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Madhavaram Milk Colony, Chennai – 600 051, email: dee@tanuvas.org.in, Phone: 044-25551579, Mobile: 9443089531.