Abstract:
The present study evaluates the performance of women-led backyard poultry (WLBP)
systems in four selected villages: Barathipuram (BP), Kirishnapuram (KP), Vivekananda
Nagar (VN), and Malayalapuram (MP) in the Kilinochchi District through an integration of
backyard poultry best practices through the Farmer Field Business School (FFBS) Approach
and village-based savings and credit mechanisms. The detailed data were gathered in
January 2025 from 126 WLBP farmers. KP had the highest proportion of WLBP small-scale
farmers (33%), followed by BP (24%), VN (23%), and MP (21%). All villages recorded 2,050
hens during the period. In BP, 67% of farmers produced eggs, averaging 284 eggs per
farmer, whereas in MP, only 15% produced eggs, with an average of just 83 eggs per
producer for the last 3 months. The highest poultry mortality rate was observed in MP at
39%, followed by KP at 25%, BP at 22%, and VN at 15% in the first six months. Additionally,
losses in chick numbers are being replaced by traditional hatching methods.
Correspondingly, BP recorded the highest average monthly income (LKR 12,000) from egg
sales, followed by KP (LKR 9,000), VN (LKR 7,500), and MP (LKR 2,750), excluding their
home-level consumption. The established group-based savings and credit initiatives
support to development of backyard poultry. They mobilize LKR 1,330,680, alongside
recycled loans of LKR 1,033,000. The loan range is LKR 15,000 to 35,000, and the average
savings per farmer is LKR 10,560 to date. These differences in management, particularly
evident in locally available resources for feeding, healthcare, and record-keeping. The
findings suggest that BP farmers and their poultry systems are more effective. It is
recommended to refine these practices and develop a replicable backyard poultry model
suited for Kilinochchi conditions.
