This small research activity aims to test and make available high-producing, farmer-preferred poultry genotypes to support increased smallholder chicken productivity and resilience, as a pathway to improving food security and economic opportunities in Pacific island countries.
Research and development efforts in the poultry sector in the Pacific region, especially smallholder poultry, is limited. However, smallholder poultry is an integral part of household livelihood activities and it significantly contributes to food and nutrition security, the local food system and households' resilience to shocks, including climate change.
Smallholder poultry production is both a source of household income and high-quality protein and can create job and employment opportunities for women and youth. Despite its multiple contributions, the poultry sector experiences constraints associated with production, marketing and consumption. Climate change also affects the sector due to temperature changes, disease patterns, feed and water supply, and natural hazards such as drought and flooding.
Enhancing the production and productivity of the poultry sub-sector in the Pacific demands context-specific and tailored research for development interventions designed and planned for each agroecology and production system. This requires understanding existing situations and practices, including farmers' production objectives, product preferences, consumption patterns, consumer demand and existing resources and opportunities.
Smallholder poultry production in the Pacific region is vital to enhancing local food systems and household resilience to climate change and economic shocks. Improved productivity will enhance the resilience of households to climate-related shocks, diversify consumption of animal-sourced food, enhance household livelihood opportunities more specifically by creating jobs for women and youth, and reduce the dependence of Pacific island countries on imported food. Improving the production and productivity of the sector will have a broader economic and social impact at the household and country level.
