本地鸡生产系统(ICPS)具有多种使用价值和生态系统服务。在过去的几年里,ICPS因其对家庭粮食安全的可能贡献而得到认可,创收,野生动物保护,改善妇女的生活。本研究旨在收集,第一次,关于三种不同农业生态系统中ICPS的综合信息(热带,亚热带,和亚温带)的印度喜马拉雅地区(IHR)及其在传统社区的粮食和经济安全中的作用。在这个研究区域,ICPS是半广泛的,提供自家种植的饲料和临时夜间庇护所。在亚温带农业生态学中,雌性比雄性拥有更多的本地鸡群(p=0.170)。亚温带农业生态系统中的家庭的羊群规模和热带牲畜单位(鸡TLU)明显更大(p≤0.001)。然而,在热带和亚热带农业生态学中,牲畜多样性指数(LDI)显着提高(p≤0.001)。由于其生存能力和适应性,亚温带地区的家庭高度重视本地鸡(p≤0.001)。在过去的1年中,亚温带农业生态学中,成年鸟类的绝对数量显着增加(p≤0.001)。亚温带农业生态中的成年鸟类死亡率为9%,在热带和亚热带农业生态系统中占14%和15%,分别。在亚温带农业生态学中,更大的羊群大小转化为显着更高的产蛋量(p≤0.001),随后每个家庭每月的鸡蛋消费量显着增加(p≤0.001)。在亚温带农业生态学中,家庭饮食多样性得分显著(p≤0.001)更高。同样,在亚温带农业生态学中,ICPS的平均年收入显着提高(p≤0.001),占家庭收入的18%。亚温带地区的ICPS营销链相对较短。在所有农业生态中,冬季,本地鸡肉和鸡蛋的需求显着增加(p≤0.001)。ICPS凋落物用作农家肥,增强生态韧性。在所有农业生态中,扩展本地鸡肉生产系统最常提到的三个障碍是疾病,捕食者,和缺乏小鸡的可用性。ICPS有助于粮食和营养安全,经济稳定,以及这个丘陵脆弱的生态系统中的生态恢复力。即使这个系统是自给自足的,管理和健康干预措施可以提高产量和生产力。
The indigenous chicken production system (ICPS) has several use values and ecosystem services. In the last few years, ICPS has been recognized for its possible contribution to household food security, income generation, wildlife protection, and bettering the women\'s lives. This study aimed to collect, for the first time, comprehensive information about ICPS in three different agro-ecologies (tropical, sub-tropical, and sub-temperate) of the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) and its role in food and economic security of traditional communities. In this study region, ICPS is semi-extensive, providing homegrown feed and temporary night shelter. In sub-temperate agro-ecology, females owned non-significant (p = 0.170) more indigenous chicken flocks than males. Households in sub-temperate agro-ecologies had significantly (p ≤ 0.001) larger flock sizes and tropical livestock units (chicken-TLU). However, the livestock diversity index (LDI) was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.001) in tropical and subtropical agro-ecology. The households in the sub-temperate region highly (p ≤ 0.001) valued indigenous chicken because of its survivability and adaptability. In absolute numbers significant (p ≤ 0.001) higher numbers of adult birds died in past 1 year in sub-temperate agro-ecology. The mortality rate of adult birds in sub-temperate agro-ecology was 9%, and it was 14 and 15% in tropical and sub-tropical agro-ecologies, respectively. In sub-temperate agro-ecology, larger flock size translated into significantly higher (p ≤ 0.001) egg production and subsequently a significant (p ≤ 0.001) higher egg consumption per household per month. In sub-temperate agro-ecology, households\' dietary diversity score was significantly (p ≤ 0.001) higher. Similarly, the average annual income from ICPS was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.001) in sub-temperate agro-ecology and accounted for 18% of household income. ICPS\' marketing chain was relatively short in the sub-temperate region. In all agro-ecologies, indigenous chicken and egg demand was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.001) in the winter. ICPS litter is used as farmyard manure, enhancing ecological resilience. In all agro-ecologies, the three most frequently cited obstacles to extending the indigenous chicken production system are illnesses, predators, and a lack of chicks availability. ICPS contributes to food and nutritional security, economic stability, and ecological resilience in this hilly and fragile ecosystem. Even though the system is self-sustaining, management and health interventions can increase production and productivity.