Constraints faced by women poultry farmers in backyard poultry rearing: a case study of Dimapur district, Nagaland, India

Introduction

According to the agriculture diary, poultry refers to a wide variety of domesticated birds such as chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, guinea fowl, pigeons, quails, ostriches and other game birds, which are reared either for consumption or for commercial purposes in both live and processed forms. These birds are generally classified on the basis of their utility and economic importance into meat type, egg type, dual-purpose, game and ornamental categories. In recent years, the poultry sector has witnessed rapid expansion due to several driving factors such as changing dietary patterns, increasing demand for animal protein, globalization, industrialization, urbanization and rising income levels, which have collectively created a favorable environment for its growth (Rao, 2020) [8] . Poultry production has become a vital component of the agricultural and livestock sector across the world as it provides a reliable and affordable source of high-quality protein in the form of eggs and meat. Additionally, poultry farming contributes significantly to integrated farming systems by producing nutrient-rich manure, which contains essential elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus and trace minerals that enhance soil fertility, improve soil structure and promote higher crop yields (Hamidu, 2022) [4] . In India, poultry farming is a well-established and rapidly growing industry, with the country ranking third in egg production and among the top global producers of poultry meat.

States such as Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra have emerged as leading contributors to poultry population, egg production and meat output, reflecting the sector's economic importance and growth potential. The North Eastern region of India is known for its unique cultural diversity, ecological richness and traditional farming practices, where poultry rearing is an integral part of rural livelihoods. Farmers in this region commonly rear indigenous breeds of poultry under traditional backyard systems, which require low investment and are well adapted to local conditions. The region as a whole has a considerable poultry population, contributing significantly to household nutrition and income. Nagaland, one of the states in this region, is characterized by hilly terrain, geographical inaccessibility, diverse tribal communities and relatively low levels of agricultural productivity. The state, comprising 16 districts and inhabited by multiple tribes with distinct cultural practices, relies heavily on small-scale farming and livestock activities for livelihood. Poultry farming in Nagaland plays a crucial role not only in providing meat and eggs but also in supporting socio-economic and cultural practices. In recent years, broiler poultry farming under semi-intensive and closed housing systems has gained popularity as a viable small-scale enterprise, largely supported by private agencies that provide day-old chicks, feed, vaccines and technical guidance. However, the expansion of commercial poultry farming has been uneven and lacks strong institutional coordination, with many farmers still depending on traditional backyard systems. Despite slower growth, backyard poultry continues to offer advantages such as low input cost, adaptability and sustainability. Considering the growing importance of poultry farming and the active involvement of women in this sector, the present study was undertaken to examine the constraints faced by women poultry farmers in Dimapur district of Nagaland, with the aim of identifying key challenges and suggesting measures for improving productivity, income and livelihood security.

Methodology

Nagaland lies between 93°20'E and 95°15'E longitude and between 25°6'N and 27°4'N latitude. It is largely a mountainous state. The Naga Hills rise from the Brahmaputra Valley in Assam to about 610 meters (2,000 ft.) and rise further to the south east, as high as 1,800 meters (6,000 ft). It is one of the smaller states of India. Nagaland is bounded by the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh to the northeast, Manipur to the south, and Assam to the west and northwest and the country of Myanmar (Burma) to the east. The state capital is Kohima, located in the southern part of Nagaland. It is also popularly known as the "land of festivals" and every tribal festival is celebrated with pomp and gaiety, adorned with rich and colorful traditional attires. Nagaland has 16 districts. The present research work has been conducted to study the -Constraints Faced by Women Poultry Farmers in Dimapur District of Nagaland, India. The research work has been conducted from 1st of April, 2023 to 10th of June, 2023. Dimapur is the largest District of the state. Two blocks were selected randomly for the present investigation in all the directions of Dimapur district. The study was conducted in Chumukedima Block and Dhansiripar Block of Dimapur District of Nagaland. There are 59 villages in Chumukedima block out of which 50 respondents were selected and interviewed. Likewise, Dhansiripar Block consists of 39 villages out of which 50 respondents were selected and interviewed. Thus, the entire sample consists of 100 respondents from these two blocks of this district. The data were collected through face-to-face interview and by direct observation method. Descriptive statistics such as frequency counts and percentages were used to present the data which were further analyzed while using MS excel software.

Results and Discussion Distribution of the respondents according to their profile

The distribution of respondents according to their profile characteristics revealed that a majority (51.00%) belonged to the middle age group (36-50 years) followed by 40.00% in the young age group (up to 35 years) and only 9.00% above 51 years, which is in line with findings of Shinde et al. (2020) [10] , Thakuria et al. (2025) [1] , Barman et al. (2004) and Toppo (2005) [7] , indicating dominance of middle-aged participants in farming activities. All respondents (100%) were female highlighting the significant role of women in poultry-related activities despite contrasting observations by Rakesh and Naik (2022) [7] , where male participation was higher. In terms of family size, the majority (60.00%) had 5-9 members followed by 36.00% with up to 4 members and only 4.00% with more than 10 members, which partially aligns with Hussain (2023) [5] and Sonowal (2012) [12] . Most respondents (64.00%) belonged to joint families, while 36.00% had nuclear families, supporting the findings of Patel (2005) [6] . Regarding education, 35.00% were graduates, 32.00% had secondary education, 23.00% had primary education and 10.00% were illiterate, which is comparable with studies by Thakuria et al. (2024) [16] and Singh (2007) [11] . Occupational status showed that 40.00% were engaged in business, 33.00% in poultry-related activities and 19.00% were government employees, which is somewhat consistent with Shanaz et al. (2010) [9] . With respect to experience, the majority (54.00%) had up to 5 years of experience followed by 43.00% with 6-10 years and only 3.00% with more than 11 years, which contrasts with findings by Thakuria et al. (2024) [16] and Trivedi (2000) [18] . The analysis of flock size indicated that most respondents (76.00%) maintained small flocks followed by 16.00% with large flocks and 8.00% with medium flocks, similar to findings Gazi et al. (2014) [3] . In terms of infrastructure, 56.00% had a single shed, 18.00% had double sheds and 26.00% had more than three sheds, while the majority (68.00%) used Kucha or temporary sheds, followed by 19.00% with semi-cemented and 13.00% practicing free-range systems. Training status revealed that a large proportion (89.00%) of respondents were untrained, with only 8.00% trained through state government programmes and 3.00% through private integrators, which differs from findings of Thakuria et al. (2025) [1] and Christian (2001) [2] . Finally, the purpose of poultry rearing showed that the majority (81.00%) reared poultry primarily for meat production, while 19.00% practiced dual-purpose rearing, indicating a clear preference for income-oriented production systems.

Constraints faced by women poultry farmers

The major constraints faced by the women farmers in poultry farming were ranked by respondents according to their severity. The results revealed that "attack by predators" was perceived as the most critical constraint, being ranked first by 75 respondents, followed by 20 respondents ranking it second and 5 respondents ranking it third, respectively. The "unavailability of improved varieties of chicks" was also a major concern, with 64 respondents ranking it first, 25 respondents ranking it second, 5 respondents ranking it third and only 6 respondents ranking it fourth, respectively. Another important issue faced by the women poultry farmers was the "high mortality rate of chicks", which was ranked first by 63 respondents, second by 22 respondents and third by 15 respondents. The "lack of technical support" was similarly significant problem faced by the women poultry farmers with 61 respondents ranking it first followed by 28 respondents second, 5 respondents third and only 6 respondents fourth. The "lack of vaccination facilities" was also highlighted as a constraint by the women poultry farmers being ranked first by 50 respondents, second by 30 respondents, third by 15 respondents and fourth by 5 respondents. Interestingly, "lack of easy access to veterinary services" was not ranked by respondents in any position, indicating that this factor was perceived as relatively less constraining compared to the others. were women, reaffirming the gender focus of the study. Most respondents (41.25%) belonged to medium-sized families consisting of 5-9 members and 54.00% had a medium level of farming experience. With respect to occupation, 40.00% of respondents were engaged in business, while 33.00% identified poultry farming as their main occupation. A majority (76.00%) maintained small flock sizes and 56.00% reared poultry in single-level sheds. Furthermore, 68.00% of respondents had kuccha or temporary sheds, and 81.00% raised poultry primarily for meat production. In terms of constraints, the study found that attack by predators was the most serious problem faced by women poultry farmers followed by unavailability of improved chick varieties, high mortality rates of chicks, lack of vaccination facilities and inadequate technical support. Lack of easy access to veterinary services was perceived as a relatively minor issue. These constraints highlight the pressing need for improved infrastructure, disease prevention measures and technical guidance in the poultry sector of the district. As poultry farming in the study area is predominantly managed by women, their participation should be the central focus of poultry development programs. Strengthening women's involvement through training, demonstrations and vocational education on lowcost and efficient poultry rearing practices can significantly improve the adoption of advanced technologies. Encouraging farmers to increase flock size, adopt improved breeds and implement scientific management practices will enhance productivity and income levels. Overall, promoting technological innovations, continuous extension support and locally relevant vocational training can improve the economic well-being of women poultry farmers and ensure sustainable poultry production, ultimately enhancing their livelihoods.

The limitation of the present study lies in the fact that due to constraints of time and resources, only one district of Nagaland was covered. Future studies may consider a larger sample size and include more districts to gain a broader understanding of the socio-economic conditions and constraints of women poultry farmers across the state.

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