The Poor Man’s ATM……….
Backyard poultry farming acts as “ATM” because as per the family needs, eggs and birds can be sold very easily at better price as and when needed. In the JTELP project, it was provisioned to supply the poultry to the selected beneficiaries which can sustain at local environment. The main aim of the backyard poultry farming is to alleviate protein malnutrition in vulnerable groups like old and weak people, breast feeding mothers and children. The backyard poultry can be easily grown at village condition by utilizing the waste materials and agricultural by-products with meagre investment as it can be started as low as two chickens to a large flock. There is a very active, potent and growing beneficiary named Shanti Hembrom of the village Borwa, Sundarpahari of the Godda district who comes under JTDS family. The main occupation of the family is cultivation and has been cultivating different grains and vegetables.
Before JTELP, the income source of the family was from agriculture and was completely depended on this single source of income; the production from which was full of fluctuation. It was a great requirement for them to adopt multiple income source in order to maintain all the essential requirements of the family. As a family member of JTDS, that was a blessing for them to which she had waited. To meet the family expenses and investment required for agricultural activities, she had to sell the grains.Currently she has 30 chickens and 6 ducks. She has derived Rs. 15,000/- and Rs. 1,500/- by selling chicken and eggs respectively. She utilized the money in procurement of ducks, family maintenance and cultivation. Now she has diversified income source from which she has been benefited so much.
The Poor Man’s ATM……….
Chalho is one of the poultry cluster under JTELP initiated by Jharkhand Tribal Development society (JTDS). Jaishree Oraon is one of the poultry beneficiaries from Chalho village under Kairo block of Lohardaga district. Having born in a family with abject proverty she never had a chance to attend school. Jaishree has four children, two sons and two daughters. With 6 people to feed, it was indeed a challenge to meet the needs through meagre income of daily wages.
Under such circumstances, she got selected as a beneficiary with an aim to diversify the livelihood opportunities.
Jaishree Oraon has received 50 chicks in the year 2017-18 and 50 chicks in the year 2018-19. Initially JTDS has facilitated shed construction in the village to ensure proper adaption of the package of practice related to backyard poultry. This small but fruitful initiative has fetched Jaishree Oraon a handsome return of Rs.8500-9500 and additionally her family have enjoyed eggs as well which has enhanced their nutrition status. She is making a steady income by just selling eggs in the nearby market. At presnet, she has 10 birds left with her. She aspires to multiply this number by hatching eggs. Now she started earning regular income from her poultry farm.
The beneficiary acknowledges that the cooperation of IFAD and JTDS has filled their lives with color and joy. They would like to continue backyard poultry as a sustainable source of livelihood for a long time.
Backyard Poultry Rearing Improves Livelihood
Jaimuni Urain, a middle-aged housewife, lives in a small village Charima, with her husband and 2 children. Due to less land holding, no regular work in the area and she did not get reasonable price of minor forest products, she was finding difficult to look after family members.
In 2018-19, a Shed was constructed as per norms of the project in her premises. She received 40 Poultry birds as initial support from JTDS in Oct 2019. After some time, again she received 25 poultry birds in second lot. With improved management practices on poultry rearing and regular help from Pashu-sakhi brought a surprising result in her life. Soon the birds started laying eggs.
She sold the eggs in the local market at the rate of Rs 7-8 per egg. Some birds reached at the stage of marketable maturity, so she sold 30 birds at the rate of Rs 250-300 and managed to earn Rs. 8000 in one year. She kept some amount as a revolving fund in order to refill the shed with new birds. Now she started earning little from her poultry farm.
She is happy to earn additional income and hope for bright future. Recalling her hardships, Jaimuni Urain says, it is very difficult to survive on such a meager amount. We occasionally worked as a casual labour or engaged ourselves in menial works. Earlier we had to take loan to pay fees and manage household expenses.