Economic Analysis of Kamrupa Compared to Local Chicken Production in Assam under Backyard System of Rearing

Aims: The programme was undertaken to study the economic analysis of Kamrupa and local chicken in Dhemaji district of Assam under backyard system of rearing.

Study Design: The data on various expenses and returns thus collected were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis as per the methods described by [1].

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Sissiborgaon, Dhemaji and Jonai development blocks of Dhemaji district during the period January, 2018 to July, 2019 by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Dhemaji.

Methodology: For the purpose thirty numbers of farmwomen from three different development blocks, thus a total of ninety numbers of farmwomen, of Dhemaji district were selected on the basis of their early experience in keeping local poultry along with Kamrupa chicken at backyard system. Items of cost included fixed cost e.g. land and building, equipments and variable costs e.g. cost of day-old chick, cost of feed, vaccine, medicine, labour, depreciation in poultry shed and miscellaneous cost. Return items included eggs, cocks and spent hens.

Results: The cost of labour accounted for 72.44 percent of the total cost of production of Kamrupa chicken followed by feed cost (9.79%), chick cost (7.21%) and depreciation of poultry house (6.44%) up to 18 months of age. The total cost of production up to 72 weeks of age was found to be higher in Kamrupa (Rs. 3,882.48) than its local counterpart (Rs. 3,512.48). The maximum amount of income was contributed by selling of eggs (46.60%) followed by sale of cocks (26.76%) and sale of spent hens (26.64) in case of local chicken. The benefit-cost (B:C) ratio in Kamrupa and local chicken were recorded as 2.64 and 2.14, respectively, in the present study.

Conclusion: From the study, it can be concluded that the small scale Kamrupa rearing is a profitable venture for farmwomen in the state of Assam.