Indigenous Chicken Production Systems and Food Security
Summary
Indigenous chicken production systems represent a cornerstone of livelihoods in many low- and middle-income countries, combining food security, income generation and cultural practices within resource-constrained settings. Typically managed under semi-extensive or backyard regimes, indigenous flocks exploit local feed resources, scavenge for foraging opportunities and require minimal capital investment. Despite lower productivity in terms of egg and meat yield compared with commercial poultry, these systems confer resilience through adaptation to local climates, resistance to endemic diseases and low reliance on external inputs. Women often play a pivotal role in flock management and decision-making, with benefits extending to household nutrition, dietary diversity and emergency cash needs. Key constraints include disease outbreaks, predator losses, insufficient chick availability and limited access to extension services. Recent efforts have aimed at enhancing genetic potential through selection and cross-breeding, improving husbandry, strengthening biosecurity and integrating feed interventions. By preserving locally adapted breeds and optimising management practices, indigenous chicken systems can contribute substantially to sustainable food systems, rural incomes and the nutritional status of marginalised populations.
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Indigenous Chicken Production Systems and Food Security publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in indigenous chicken production systems and food security across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Semi-extensive system: A poultry management approach where birds are housed at night but allowed to forage freely by day, combining elements of free-range and controlled feeding.
Dietary diversity score: A numerical index measuring the range of distinct food groups consumed by a household, used as a proxy for nutritional adequacy.
Genetic improvement: The process of enhancing desirable traits in livestock populations through selective breeding and cross-breeding strategies.
Flock size: The total number of birds reared together under a single management unit or household.
Biosecurity: A set of preventive measures designed to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases among animal populations.
References
- Indigenous chicken production system in different agro-ecology of Indian Himalayan Region: implication on food and economic security. Frontiers in Nutrition (2023).
- Perceptions of veterinary extension staff regarding poultry feed and ingredients in selected districts of Uganda: a qualitative study. Discover Food (2024).
- Review of chicken productive and reproductive performance and its challenges in Ethiopia. All Life (2022).
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