Economic evaluation and marketing dynamics of backyard poultry enterprises in north Bengaluru district, Karnataka

Manish, K.L., Girish, M., Girish, M.R. and Vinutha, B.S. 2023. Economic evaluation and marketing dynamics of backyard poultry enterprises in north Bengaluru district, Karnataka. Indian Journal Poultry Science, 58(3): 281–287. An economic evaluation of backyard poultry enterprise was carried out in Devanahalli and Doddaballapura taluks of North Bengaluru district of Karnataka. The profitability and marketing of backyard poultry birds and eggs, women participation and production and marketing constraints in backyard poultry rearing were analysed. Data collection involved primary sources from 40 backyard poultry farmers, supplemented by information from five butchers and five traders. Analytical tools used for the analysis were descriptive statistics and Garrett's ranking technique. The total cost and gross returns per annum for backyard poultry rearing with a flock size of 22 birds was estimated to be Rs. 8,194.78 and Rs. 10,906 respectively, resulting in a net return of Rs. 2711.22. Three marketing channels of birds were found in the study area viz., Channel I: Farmer - Consumer; Channel II: Farmer - Trader - Consumer; and Channel III: Farmer - Trader - Butcher - Consumer. About 32 per cent of the sample farmers chose to sell their birds through Channel I followed by Channel II (20 %) and Channel III (12.50 %). Women were found to be involved in supervision of chicks, feeding, watering, collection and sale of eggs and record keeping of eggs collected. Disease outbreak, mortality and price fluctuation were the major constraints faced by farmers. Scaling up the flock size with additional chicks, better management practices with timely use of veterinary services will enable the farmers to earn higher returns.