Backyard poultry with Vanaraja and Srinidhi: proven technology for doubling the tribal farmers’income in Nagaland

Abstract

The North-Eastern Hills Region of India in general and Nagaland in particular is characterized by inaccessibility, marginality, fragility, cultural heterogeneity, rich biodiversity, low livestock and crop productivity. In Nagaland, there are 16 recognized tribes besides numerous minor tribes which are mostly non-vegetarian. Also, the per caput consumption of animal protein is highest in Nagaland. Meat of any kind of animal is acceptable without any religion consideration. Tribal farmers of the State evolve a zero to negligible input based livestock and poultry production system. This system aims to get medium output from nearly zero input and mostly depends on the locally available resources. However, there are major constainsts like non-availability of good poultry germplasm, lack of scientific knowledge of improved production practices and higher feed cost deters the tribal farmers for going for commercial poultry farming. The State is almost 40% deficient in animal meat and products.