Benefit-cost analysis of Rhode Island Red chicken rearing in backyard on the basis of egg production performance

Materials and Methods About 85% of chicken stock of India belongs to small sector which provides 50%of total egg production [1-3].Familychicken through the InternationalNetwork on Family Poultry Development (INFPD) was also committed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as a Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS) in the developing countries including India where backyard chicken production system has been encouraged [4]. Rural farmers were motivated for backyard chicken production under the largest Poultry Distribution Scheme of world in theWest Bengal state [5]. But, basic data related to egg production performance and benefit-cost analysis of the distributing chickens, the Rhode Island Red (RIR), at the backyard was not standardized. On this background, an attempt was made to standardize the basic egg production data in respect to backyard chicken rearing at various agro-climatic zones of West Bengal age of maturity, weekly hen day, laying period, total egg production. These egg production features were also analysed on the basis of various supplemented feed provided by the farmers. Attempt was also made to analyze the production cost of an egg and there by benefit-cost analysis. The study may help the farmers and planners to evaluate the backyard chicken rearing system in rural areas and to take suitable programme thereof.