ICAR-Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (IIAB), Ranchi, organised a hands-on training on “Scientific Poultry Farming” on September 20, 2019, for skill development of the stakeholder farmers of Soparam and Somersoth villages under Balumath block of Latehar district.
The programme was organised under Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP) scheme of Government of India. More than a hundred farmers were oriented on different aspects of poultry farming, namely feeding, management, health care, etc. with a focus on entrepreneurship development. One thousand numbers of six-weeks-old vaccinated improved strains of chicks and ducklings, suitable for backyard farming in the region, were provided to the farmer stakeholders.
Thirty quintals of balanced poultry feed were also provided to the farmers for supplementation purpose to ensure optimum growth and better acclimatisation of the poultry under field condition. The improved strain of birds gives on an average 150 eggs in a year under field conditions, which is double the performance of local birds and attain mature body-weight of 2-2.5 kg. It is expected to enhance farmers’ income and contribute to their nutritional and livelihood security.
On this occasion, 450 bags of urea and 200 bags of Muriate of Potash (MOP) were also provided to about 350 farmers who earlier received quality seeds of paddy, maize and okra.
The programme was chaired by Dr. Tilak Raj Sharma, the Director of ICAR-IIAB, Ranchi. The programme was jointly coordinated by Dr. Soumen Naskar (Sr. Scientist), Dr. Binay Kr. Singh (Sr. Scientist), and Dr. Avinash Pandey (Scientist and Nodal Officer of SCSP).
Dr. Sudhir Kumar (Scientist) and Dr. Madan Kumar (Scientist) participated actively in the programme. Dr. Tilak Raj Sharma assured the farmers of continued support in future.
