Block Mission Management Unit of Silchar Development Block, Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission has taken an initiative to promote backyard country chicken among its SHG members, which is a supplementary income source and a livelihood opportunities to them. Country chicken has a niche market and prime rate compared to broiler chicken. Taste of country chicken is also considered an attractive factor to rear them. But most of the country chicken rearing restricted to rearing of indigenous birds that have poor production growth. To increase the production, it requires introducing improved varieties of chicken, which can promise better production of meat and eggs. To increase the backyard poultry production BMMU Silchar in convergence with line department decided to introduce Rainbow Rooster breed. It is a dual purpose breed. When managed as a layer, rainbow roosters will lay 160-180 eggs. When managed as meat birds, the rainbow rooster will attain the average weight of 2kgs in 8 weeks under commercial feeds. Due to high resistance to poultry diseases and the free-range nature of rainbow roosters, its farming can be carried out with a low investment.
Hasina Begum Mazumder, a member of Amrita Self Help Group of Baghadahar Borjurai Gaon Panchayat under BMMU Silchar, kept faith on us and decided to rear Rainbow Rooster for meat purpose only. On the mean time her SHG has received Bank Loan of Rs. 200000. Taking loan of Rs. 30000 from her SHG she invested the whole amount in the project.
Housing is one of the largest and one time start-up costs in poultry firm. It is advised to build poultry house at least 2 square feet per chicken. The lady said it costed her around Rs. 60-70 per square feet to build the poultry house. All the expenses meeting the cost of chicks, housing, electricity bill, vaccination and fooding it stood around Rs. 30000 (approx).
After 50 days of rearing with zero mortality rate her chickens attained 1.7 per kg in an average. She had sold all the chickens @ Rs. 350 per kg and it is found that after meeting all the expenses she had secured profit of Rs. 25,000 (approx). Here it is seen that, a cycle of raising this breed of chicken lasts for 60 days, then it is possible to raise it six times in a year. If we assume it five times in year, is generating income of Rs. 1,25,000 (approx). Smelling of success, she decided to expand her poultry farm to raise more nos. of chickens from the CIF fund that she is suppose to receive from her VO.
By this way, through backyard poultry, Hasina Begum Mazumder has brought significant changes in her socio-economic condition. She is now an example of how a woman can be successful by dint of hard work and devotion. She is now an inspiration for many as she has now become a self-reliant.
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