Abstract
Small-scale broiler farming at subsistent level and its influence on family income, farmer's gender
efficiency and family nutrition was studied during 2003-04 at Bhaluka upazila of Mymensingh District
under Madhupur AEZ. Performance potentials of four broiler strains (1 moderate growing and 3 fast
growing) reared by male and female farmers of landless, marginal and small category in three
different seasons viz., summer, rainy and winter were evaluated. Differences in farm category (FC),
farmer's gender efficiency (FG), rearing season (SE) and strain (ST) significantly affected
performances of broiler. Birds managed by small farmers performed better with respect to growth but
it had no noticeable influence on economic performance. Due to superior feed conversion efficiency of
broilers male farmers achieved significantly higher gross margin. In spite of poor performance higher
market price of live broilers made the enterprise more profitable during summer. Moderate growing
broiler strain ISA i757 achieved lower final liveweight but converted feed more efficiently and showed
better survival rate compared to fast growing strains. Therefore, gross margin was much higher in ISA
i757. Some of the meat yield characteristics were influenced by farmer's gender difference, rearing
season and strains of broiler. FC x SE interaction significantly affected only survivability of birds. SE
and ST interacted to influence weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion. Final fattening weight
was also affected by FC x FG x SE interaction. Certain economic traits of broiler farming were induced
by FG x SE and SE x ST interactions. A few slaughter characteristics was also influenced by FG x SE,
SE x ST, FC x SE x ST and FC x FG x SE x ST interactions. Highest contributions in all three
categories of farms came from crop sector. Broiler farming played a substantial role in the total annual
income specially among landless farm families (about 21.6 per cent of the total). Therefore, increase
in annual family income was also highest (15.88 per cent) in landless and lowest (5.92 per cent) in
marginal farms over the pervious year. Expenditure of each farm was also boosted up to satisfy
increased family needs and this increment was highest in small farms. Estimated annual increase in
family expenditure compared to that of income was much higher which resulted in a reduction of
family savings in marginal farms. However, growth of annual savings found highest in landless
(118.04 per cent over previous year). Farmers sold most of the produced broiler meat as live bird
directly to paiker for earning cash income. Along with cash income this enterprise created an
opportunity to utilise their unused family labour hours for productive purpose and therefore, labour use
efficiency also increased. It was also found that increased family income made capable the farmers to
spend more money for food, clothing, education, health care and other needs. As a result,
consumption of major food items was also increased. Increased family consumption resulted in partial
replenishing of nutrient intake of family members. Energy and vitamin A intake status were below the
minimum requirement even after one year intervention in all categories of farms. Farmers specially
landless and marginal category were mostly surplus with respect to protein, iron, thiamin and vitamin
C intake. Calcium deficiency was only replenished in landless farms. But, riboflavin deficiency was
radically improved. A number of constraints were identified that hindered the smooth operation of this
enterprise in a profitable manner. The most important ones were low and unstable price of live broiler,
high price of inputs, disease outbreak, insufficient operating capital, poor knowledge base, etc. that
could be overcome by adopting appropriate strategic measures from policy level. Considering all of
the factors, it may be concluded that resource poor farmers may rear moderate growing broiler
strains, which requires less cash involvement. Initiatives should be taken to improve marketing
systems and train the farmers with modern broiler management techniques for flourishing the
enterprise as an income generating activity. Offering almost similar labour hours both male and
female farmers obtained broilers of equal weight. This enterprise also could play a substantial role in
increasing household income, labour utilisation, family nutrition and thus in reducing the poverty of the
resource poor farmers.