Backyard Poultry farming is crucial for Rajasthan due to its contributions to food security, economic development, and employment opportunities, particularly in rural areas. The present study attempted to assess the intervention of improved poultry strain as backyard poultry as an economic venture. A total of 220 units, with 20 birds of 8 weeks old birds were supplied after compilation of early vaccination schedule, waterer & feeder each were supplied to tribal families spreading in 9 villages of tribal dominated five blocks of Sirohi and Pali districts in Rajasthan. Beside inputs, technical assistance were given to the beneficiaries in terms of skill training programs, advisory services and diagnostic field visit to enhance the knowledge level as and when necessary by the project staff. Findings of present study revealed that the average daily weight gain (ADG) in improved and Desi birds during 8th and 20th weeks of age was recorded to be 12.44 g and 10.90 g respectively. The average age at first egg laying was observed in improved and Desi birds as 142.68±2.73 and 163.87±2.17 d, respectively. In case of economic returns was recorded by keeping of a unit of 20 birds, generate a income on an average about Rs 11,280 of improved birds and Rs 6,130 in desi birds. The B:C ratio of improved birds and desi birds observed 2.0324 and 1.7589 respectively and further noticed that the earning of poultry farming mainly utilized for domestic purpose and ranked first with rank base quotient (RBQ) value 76.38. The article portrays the need for providing capacity building and extension programme to tribal households, which can go long way in making backyard poultry as a tool for socio economic upliftment

Arid ecosystem, Backyard, Average daily weight gain, economic venture and improved Poultry strain

The present study was undertaken to assess the improved poultry strain under backyard system in tribal dominated blocks of Sirohi and Pali districts under jurisdiction of Agriculture University, Jodhpur. The higher returns from backyard poultry revealed that it can generate income to develop self-employment and nutritional security. Advancement of the backyard poultry through introduction of improved breeds can definitely contribute to poverty alleviation and nutritional improvement. Therefore, it is necessary to impart capacity building programs, Front Line Demonstration on improved practices of poultry production practices for larger adoption and self-employment venture. Government should provide constant support to find organizational solutions to minimize public-health risks and provide appropriate extension support on issues like disease prevention, predation and improving hatchability to the producers

Pankaj Lavania, M.P. Verma, R.P.S., Jaitawat, Ajesh Kumar and Rashmi Bhinda (2025). Assessment of Improved Poultry Strain under Backyard System of Poultry Farming as an Economic Venture in Rajasthan. Biological Forum, 17(6): 170-173