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BPL families get 11,700 poultry farming units
Thanks to the initiative taken by central and State governments, thousands of BPL (below poverty line) families in Andhra Pradesh are getting highly nutritional chicken and eggs due to distribution of poultry chicks under the Backyard Poultry Farming scheme. In all, 11,700 units have been sanctioned to Andhra Pradesh and most of them were distributed to the BPL families in this financial year.
Vijayawada: Thanks to the initiative taken by central and State governments, thousands of BPL (below poverty line) families in Andhra Pradesh are getting highly nutritional chicken and eggs due to distribution of poultry chicks under the Backyard Poultry Farming scheme. In all, 11,700 units have been sanctioned to Andhra Pradesh and most of them were distributed to the BPL families in this financial year.
The Department of Animal Husbandry has been distributing the chicks as per the norms. Each unit consists of 45 chicks and distributed in two instalments (25 and 20) in a gap of two or three weeks. The central government’s share is 60 per cent and State’s share is 40 per cent. Each chick costs Rs.68. The government gives subsidy of Rs.50 for each chick. The remaining Rs.18 has to be borne by the beneficiary.
In addition to it, government distributes night shelter worth R.1,500 to each beneficiary for protection of poultry birds. These birds gain two kgs weight in four months. The objective of the State and central governments is to supplement the BPL families with enriched nutrition food which is abundantly available in eggs and poultry birds, said Director of Animal Husbandry M Somasekhar.
There is massive response from the beneficiaries in the State. The chicks are grown into poultry birds and lay 160 eggs per year. There is huge demand for eggs laid by the dual-purpose rooster birds. BPL families are earning money on sale of eggs and roosters. Besides, the eggs can be groomed as chicks.
Veterinary doctor B Srinivas said these dual-purpose roosters can be produced for commercial purposes by installing big poultry forms. Society for elimination of poverty in rural areas (SERP) is selecting the beneficiaries based on the guidelines prescribed by the government.
When the prices of eggs of layer birds are soaring and crossed Rs.6 per egg, there is need to promote backyard poultry farms in the State. The Andhra Pradesh Government is insisting that each family must earn R.10,000 by doing small business.
This kind of backyard poultry units will be very useful to increase the income of families in rural and semi rural areas to become self-reliant. Besides, Women Self- help groups can take up the backyard poultry farming on massive scale to generate revenue and help people get nutritional food at affordable prices.
By Md Ameen
