DUCK FARMING

Duck farming: A potential Tool to Reduce Poverty in Rural Households in Indian Communities

November 19, 2023

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Duck farming: A potential Tool to Reduce Poverty in Rural Households in Indian Communities

Poultry Sector is one of the fastest growing segments of the agriculture sector in India. Chicken dominates in the poultry production. Duck faming is emerging as an alternate to chicken production for contributing to food and nutrition security, income generation, employment and social security in India. As a diversified poultry species duck farming is considered as a viable livelihood option for backyard sector and women empowerment. With low input resources it has attracted small, marginal and landless farmers especially farm women. Ducks are hardy, easily brooded, and resistant to common avian diseases. Duck can also be reared in Integrated Faming. Live chicken ducks can be reared for both eggs and meat. Duck egg is relatively larger than chicken’s egg(54g). Ducks are more prolific than chicken and better adaptable to free range system of rearing. Ducks play a vital role in meeting the daily protein need and producing household income of farm families in the mixed farming system in our country. It is an important tool for alleviating poverty among the rural communities, and has great potential in tribal areas of the country.

Status of Poultry and Duck population in India

The total poultry population in the country was 851.81 million in 2019 which was increased by 16.8 % over the previous census. Of the total poultry population, the share of backyard poultry is 317.07 million (37.22 %). while chicken shares 95% of poultry sector, 3% Duck and 2% by Turkey, guinea fowls and quails. The contribution of ducks to national egg basket is around 3%. The states like West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Kerala, Manipur, Bihar, Tripura, Odisha and Tamil Nadu accounts for majority of the duck production in the country.

Systems of Duck Rearing: There are many ways in which ducks can be reared. In practice farmers can adapt this rearing system to their own needs and the materials available.

Free range system: In this system of rearing, ducks are only kept enclosed at night. During the day, they are allowed to scavenge outside in search of feed. They are brought back at night to their shelter and some extra feed in the shelter is kept. This system of rearing is suited to small and marginal farmers with limited resources. The flock size is usually 5-20 ducks.

Semi-Intensive system: In this system of rearing there is a provision of roofed house and an open run. The ducks stay in the same place. The outside run makes it easier to give the ducks access to water as a shallow pond which can be made in this area. It is easy to keep an eye on them and check them.

Intensive system:

This system of rearing is suitable for largescale duck farms, where the production is mechanized to reduce labour costs. The system requires more investment than the other two systems of housing. Farmer has to provide all feed and water and clean it regularly. Although swimming facility is not essential for the ducks under this system, water in shallow containers can be kept to dip their heads.

Integrated Duck Rearing Systems:

In this system of rearing different forms of production complement with each other and the farmer will gets better production and higher profit. Duck keeping combines well with other forms of farming. there are mainly four major integrated duck farming system such as • Duck- Rice Integrated farming system • Duck- Fish Integrated farming system • Duck-Rice- Fish Integrated farming system • Duck- Rice- Fish- Azolla Integrated farming system