TRADITIONAL RURAL CHICKEN PRODUCTION IN NORTHERN ODISHA: GENDER ROLE AND DECISION MAKING
The present study aimed at assessment of gender role and decision making pattern in traditional rural chicken production in northern Odisha. A total of 120 rural household keeping chickens were interviewed and informations were collected using a structured interview schedule. The study revealed higher ownership of women (71.7% compared to men (28.3% in rural chicken production. Women participation in housing management such as let out and shut down of chicken, cleaning, disposal of waste, egg collection, nest preparation and tying or casing chicken were dominated over male (45 100% vs. 2.5 26.7% Women involved more (62.3 100% in preparation of finely ground rice, caring of broody and laying hen, caring of young chicks, health management (treatment, isolation and care of sick birds) and marketing of chicken. However, men played major role (70 100% in shelter construction, caring of fighting cock, medicine purchase, dead bird disposal and dealer contact. Feeding and watering of chicken, predator chasing, protecting crops and thatched roof from chickens are mostly taken care together by women, men and children (92.5 100% Women dominated on decision making in all aspects of rural chicken production (63 100% Results of the present study indicated major participation of women in traditional rural chicken production for uplifting their livelihood.