The Role of Family Poultry Systems in Tropical Countries

Abstract

Family farming includes all family-based agricultural activities, and it is linked to many areas of rural development in tropical countries. It is the predominant form of agriculture in the food production sector in both developing and developed countries. The term “Family poultry” used to describe the full variety of small-scale poultry production systems that are found in rural, urban and peri-urban areas in tropical countries. Whereas, the term “Poultry farming” refers to the raising of domesticated birds such as chickens, turkeys, ducts, and geese for the purpose of farming meat or eggs for food. Poultry are farmed in great numbers with chickens being the most numerous around the world. Chickens raised for eggs are usually called layers while chickens raised for meat are often called broilers. Chickens are also the most frequently commercialized of all these birds. Family poultry farming makes a signi cant contribution to poverty alleviation, food security, HIV/AIDS mitigation, empowerment of women and wildlife conservation in many countries. In most tropical countries which mainly dominated by developing countries, indigenous poultry genotypes constitute up to 80 percent of the poultry populations that are kept in villages. The birds largely subsist on scavenging in gardens, village alleys and surroundings of the farms by feeding on crop residues, insects, worms and green forage. While for the poor members of society this system provides a subsidiary income, the present dimensions of traditional backyard poultry production have changed drastically and crossed the boundaries of the economically weaker sectors.