Scientific poultry farming and hatchery support boost rural livelihoods and inspire 30 tribal women in Jharkhand
Gumla, Jharkhand: Scientific poultry farming, capacity building and institutional support from Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Gumla, have helped Mrs. Phool Kumari, a tribal woman farmer from Borang village in Bishunpur block, transform her family’s traditional farming-based livelihood into a diversified rural enterprise. Her success has strengthened household income, supported her children’s education and inspired other tribal women to adopt improved backyard poultry farming.
Belonging to a farming family with approximately five acres of land, Mrs. Phool Kumari traditionally depended on rainfed agriculture. Low productivity and limited farm income of around ₹50,000–60,000 annually made it difficult for the family to meet household expenses and educational needs.
Her journey towards livelihood diversification began in 2016, when she came into contact with KVK, Gumla. Through regular interaction with KVK scientists and technical experts, she learned about improved agricultural practices and alternative income-generating activities. In 2018, following the KVK’s advice and training, she adopted poultry farming as an additional source of income.
Under the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP), KVK, Gumla, provided her with 100 Divyayan Red chicks, a breed suitable for backyard poultry production. She established the unit using locally available resources and adopted improved practices in housing, feeding, drinking water management and disease prevention. The birds attained an average body weight of approximately 1.5 kg within three months, while egg production began at around 22 weeks of age.
Recognising her commitment and progress, KVK, Gumla, further supported her Self-Help Group (SHG) under the TSP project with a hatchery machine and 112 eggs. This enabled her to expand beyond poultry rearing and explore chick production as an additional enterprise.
From supplementary income to rural entrepreneurship
The integration of improved poultry farming and hatchery operations significantly enhanced the family’s income-generating capacity. During 2025–26, her poultry enterprise generated a gross income of ₹4,48,400 against an input cost of ₹2,25,000, resulting in a net income of ₹2,23,400. The enterprise comprised the sale of 1,000 adult birds, 960 chicks and 1,000 eggs.
The additional earnings have improved the family’s financial security and enabled investments in other livelihood activities. The family purchased an autorickshaw, which is operated by her husband, Mr. Jagdish Oraon, providing an additional source of income. The improved financial position has also eased the burden of meeting household expenses and supporting the education of their two children.
Reflecting on the transformation, Mrs. Phool Kumari said that the poultry hatchery unit and technical guidance from KVK had brought a positive change in her family’s economic condition. The additional income has helped the family become more self-reliant, while poultry farming has given her the confidence to emerge as a rural entrepreneur.
Inspiring other tribal women
Her success has created a demonstration effect in Borang village. Inspired by her achievements, approximately 30 tribal women have adopted improved backyard poultry farming. They are also purchasing eggs from her unit and increasingly adopting improved breeds such as Sonali and Divyayan Red. The participating women reportedly earn an additional annual income of ₹35,000–45,000 through poultry farming, strengthening their household livelihoods.
The initiative demonstrates how scientific training, improved breeds, hatchery support and continuous technical guidance can help small and tribal farm households diversify their livelihoods. It also highlights the potential of women-led poultry enterprises to create local employment, strengthen community-level production systems and encourage entrepreneurship in rural areas.
Mrs. Phool Kumari’s journey, supported by KVK, Gumla, illustrates how targeted agricultural interventions can turn a supplementary livelihood activity into a sustainable enterprise, contributing to income enhancement, women’s empowerment and rural economic development.
(Source: Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Gumla)
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