Backyard Poultry Farming among Selected Households in Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu: Socioeconomic Characteristics, Production Constraints and Farm-level Economics

Abstract

This descriptive survey examines backyard poultry activities among selected households in three villages of Namakkal district, Tamil Nadu. The survey dataset comprised 120 households, with 40 each from Sambamed, Kalkurchi and Naraikinar. Household characteristics and perceived production constraints were summarized as counts and percentages. Three first-year account schedules, each describing a 50-bird backyard poultry unit, were evaluated separately using recorded costs and quantities of eggs and birds sold. Women constituted 64.17% (77/120) of the respondents, and agriculture was the principal occupation of 60.83% (73/120). The most frequently reported constraints were inadequate year-round availability of improved chicks (92.50%), predator-related losses (89.17%) and limited technical knowledge (79.17%). In the three illustrative units, egg sales ranged from 960 to 1,600 eggs; the corresponding gross sales receipts from eggs and birds were ₹19,800, ₹18,327 and ₹23,500. Recorded production costs were ₹10,071.35, ₹11,570 and ₹11,280, giving sales-based net margins of ₹9,728.65, ₹6,757 and ₹12,220, respectively. These accounts exclude the initial housing outlay as a direct expense and do not value eggs consumed at home. The findings identify practical constraints and potentially positive unit-level sales margins, but do not establish a population-average profit, a change in household income or nutritional adequacy.