The present study was conducted in SaiKhandara and Rondha villages of Betul District of Madhya Pradesh, for household income and food & nutritional security through tribal women empowerment and to find better performance among the Kadaknath and local non descript (ND) breed. Twenty female and two male birds of each breed are distributed to 10 women’s of each two villages (Total 440 chicks) for rearing in backyard farming system in village situation. The experiment was conducted at farmers level under the operational area villages of KVK, Betul. The birds were routinely vaccinated against Newcastle disease, Infectious Bursal Disease and Fowl Pox diseases. The data for body weight, body weight gain, mortality and egg production were recorded weekly. Body weight was significantly higher in Kadaknath birds as compare to ND birds. Egg production was also higher in the Kadaknath birds but age at 1st laying and mortality rate were on the lower side in Kadaknath than ND birds though found non-significant among each other. The selling rate of Live body weight and egg of kadaknath birds were also higher than ND birds, because there is great demand of Kadaknath meat due its nutritive and medicinal properties. The study revealed that, Kadaknath as Backyard poultry is play an important role to empower women socially and economically, as a source of income generation, employment opportunities, along with production of valuable foods that reduces household malnutrition.

Highlights

• Kadaknath as Backyard poultry is play an important role to empower women socially and economically.
• Kadaknath rearing acts as a source of income generation, employment opportunities, along with production of valuable foods that reduces household malnutrition.