Knowledge gaps in poultry farming: A comparative study of tribal and non-tribal farmers in Himachal Pradesh

Background: Poultry production in India has seen substantial growth, primarily concentrated in large-scale commercial units. However, backyard poultry farming has been largely neglected. In Himachal Pradesh, there has been a sharp 50% decline in households engaging in backyard poultry farming, and per capita egg consumption remains alarmingly low at 12 eggs per annum, compared to the national average of 101 eggs. This study hypothesized that knowledge gaps in key poultry farming practices, particularly in remote hilly areas, contribute to the low productivity of backyard poultry. Methods: The study assessed the knowledge levels of farmers from Kangra (non-tribal district) and Lahaul & Spiti (tribal district) in Himachal Pradesh. Structured interviews were conducted with 80 farmers (40 from each district), evaluating their knowledge across five critical domains: breeding, housing, health, feeding, and management. Farmers' knowledge was categorized into three levels: low, medium, and high. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, including frequency distributions, means, and standard deviations. Results: The results revealed significant knowledge deficits in all domains, with 95-100% of farmers in both tribal and non-tribal regions falling into the low knowledge category, especially in feeding and management. Tribal farmers consistently demonstrated lower scores than their non-tribal counterparts. The findings support the hypothesis that knowledge gaps are a key factor contributing to the low productivity of backyard poultry farming in these regions. These results emphasize the need for targeted extension programs and community outreach to address knowledge deficits and improve poultry farming practices and productivity.