~ 167 ~ Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2019; 8(3): 167-171 E-ISSN: 2278-4136 P-ISSN: 2349-8234 JPP 2019; 8(3): 167-171 Received: 19-03-2019 Accepted: 21-04-2019 Ashwini Pawara Livestock Development Officer, Govt. of Maharashtra, India Adhiti Bhanotra Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension, Bombay Veterinary College, Parel, Mumbai, MAFSU, Maharashtra, India Manish Sawant Associate Professor and I/C, Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension, Bombay Veterinary College, Parel, Mumbai, MAFSU, Maharashtra, India Akshay Ghatare M.V.Sc Scholar, Bombay Veterinary College, Parel, Mumbai, MAFSU, Maharashtra, India Nikita Sonawane M.V.Sc Scholar, Bombay Veterinary College, Parel, Mumbai, MAFSU, Maharashtra, India Correspondence Adhiti Bhanotra Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension, Bombay Veterinary College, Parel, Mumbai, MAFSU, Maharashtra, India Decision building pattern of farm women in poultry value chain in thane district of Maharashtra Ashwini Pawara, Adhiti Bhanotra, Manish Sawant, Akshay Ghatare and Nikita Sonawane Abstract A study was conceptualised on 120 poultry farm women in Thane district of Maharashtra to find out their decision making pattern in poultry value chain. Farm women having minimum 2 poultry birds with 1 to 3 years of experience were selected. Data were collected personally with the help of pre-tested structured interview schedule and analyzed with the help of frequency, mean, standard deviation and percentage. Majority of the farm women were taking decision by self without consulting others regarding feeding, health care and management, marketing and finance, miscellaneous activities etc. However, there was no involvement of farm women in breeding management. Keywords: Poultry management, decision making, farm women, marketing, feeding, health care and management Introduction Rural women traditionally play an important role in poultry sector and are often in control of the whole process from feeding to marketing, which is not the case in production systems for other livestock species. Women benefits from poultry value chains which includes local poultry production and marketing, or particular points of value chains such as informal trading, processing or as service providers. The management, processing and marketing of poultry products generates income that women tend to be involved in, and brings benefits for the whole family for instance by increasing food security at the household level. Owning, controlling and benefiting from poultry production increases women’s self-esteem and strengthens their role as producers and income generators within the household and in the community. Women play an important role in poultry management, processing and marketing, acting as care providers, feed gatherers, and birth attendants. They are also involved in egg production, control the sale of eggs and poultry birds. Identifying and supporting women’s roles as poultry owners, processors and users of poultry products strengthens their decision-making power and capabilities, are key aspects in promoting women’s economic and social empowerment and consequently provides a way to enable rural women to break the cycle of poverty. Poultry ownership also increases the women’s decision-making and economic power within both the household and the community. Ownership of poultry by women can influence the decisions they make on how to use that poultry or poultry products, as well as how to use other streams of benefits, for example, income emanating from that poultry farming. Poultry ownership increases the likelihood of gaining access to credit. The outstanding demand for poultry products gives considerable opportunities for the rural women to escape poverty by diversifying livestock production. Keeping this in view, the present study was conducted to analyze the decision making role dynamics of farm women in poultry value chain. Materials and Methods The present study was undertaken in Thane district of Maharashtra in 2018. Thane district is having 07 blocks, out of which three blocks namely Bhiwandi, Murbad and Shahapur blocks were purposively selected. From each block, four villages were selected randomly and from each village, 10 farm women were selected, thereby making a total of 120 farm women for present study. Criteria for selection of respondents The criteria for selection of farm women were that they should have at least two poultry birds with minimum 1-3 years of experience in poultry rearing.