The News reports that according to a survey conducted by the Poultry Research Institute, after providing training to the female farmers in rural areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, significantly lower flock size was maintained by female farmers before getting training (12.4 numbers) than after training (23.44 numbers).

Egg production, per bird, was significantly lower prior to training (37.7 eggs) than after training (75.2 eggs). A significantly higher number of eggs per capita per year were available for farmers after training (140 eggs) than before training (87 eggs). However, per capita egg consumption was not improved by training. Mean overall mortality per flock were significantly higher before training (45.5 per cent) than after training (13.5 per cent).

150 female farmers from 15 villages (8 villages of Rawalpindi and 7 villages of Islamabad) were selected at random, a further selection was made of 100 farmers who were ready to establish female farmer groups and were eager to receive training.

At each village level, one farmer group was established and allotted to female poultry extension workers. Training included poultry skill development concerning rural chicken production, breeding of highly productive stock, care of the newly hatched chicks, housing, feeding, disease prevention, biosecurity measures, control of external and internal parasites, egg selection and storage, hatchability of eggs, selection and culling of birds and provision of vaccines and essential medicines.

The data was analysed using General Linear Model procedures. The statistical model was developed to ascertain the effect of breeds, season, health coverage programme and training received by female farmers on egg production and mortality in chicks.