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Kudumbasree to set out on a poultry mission

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: Ernakulam is among the five districts chosen by the Kudumbasree Poverty Eradication Programme for launching the first phase of a poultry mission that aims to capitalise on the stagnating poultry production in the State that has forced it to depend on large-scale imports from neighbouring States.

Besides Ernakulam, Malappuram, Thrissur, Kottayam and Alappuzha are the other districts identified for the layer bird farm programme initially. The aim of the new venture from Kudumbasree is to set up five-member activity groups from among the self-help groups under the Mission. Those selected will be given training, subsidy and bank loans to set up poultry bird units on about 5,000 sq. ft. of space.

Local help

Kudumbasree will take the help of local entrepreneurs for the programme for what has been described as an "integrated scheme" in which a network will be built to effectively market localised production.

According to the plans, the new groups, assisted by the entrepreneur, will buy eggs for hatching. These eggs will be hatched at a previously agreed rate and the entrepreneur will provide the group with about 3,000 one-day-old chicks every month. The entrepreneur will also help the poultry groups with a special formula feed and, in the long run, help in setting up a feed plant.

Rearing chicks

The day-old chicks will be reared for 45 days by newly formed Kudumbashree poultry enterprise groups. In turn, these birds will be supplied to Community Development Societies, Area Development Societies or Neighbourhood Groups as substitutes for revolving fund.

According to the Kudumbasree plans, enhanced egg production through the new scheme will also help it meet its commitments to supply eggs for the newly-introduced mid-day meals programme in schools.

In Ernakulam district, ten persons have been trained for setting up poultry units at Veliyanadu and Kaippattur in Edakkattuvayal panchayat. It is expected that 17 groups — three in Malappuram, four each in Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kottayam and two in Alappuzha, will be trained initially.

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