Sri Vijaya Puram, Mar 13: In a significant step towards strengthening backyard poultry farming and empowering rural households, the Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services (AH&VS), Andaman & Nicobar Administration, distributed 510 high-quality Vanaraja chicks to progressive farmers of Pudhumadhurai (Bajota), Devpur, Tugapur and to members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Rampur. The chicks were procured from the Government Poultry Farm (GPF), Sitanagar, and supplied with complete technical guidance on scientific rearing, feeding, health management and biosecurity practices.
Vanaraja, a hardy dual-purpose breed developed for backyard conditions, is highly suitable for the island environment due to its disease resistance, adaptability and excellent egg and meat production potential. This distribution will directly benefit small and marginal farmers as well as women SHG members by providing them a low-investment, high-return livelihood option that enhances household nutrition through fresh eggs and meat while generating sustainable additional income.
The initiative is part of the Department’s ongoing mission to promote scientific backyard poultry farming across remote and rural pockets of North Andaman. By supplying quality chicks along with necessary inputs and follow-up support, the Department aims to increase poultry production, improve nutritional security and create self-employment opportunities, especially for women and tribal communities. Farmers and SHG members expressed great enthusiasm and committed to adopting best management practices for optimum results.
This successful distribution once again demonstrates the Department’s focused approach to reaching every corner of the islands with quality livestock inputs and technical knowledge. The AH&VS Department remains fully committed to expanding such distribution programmes, organising regular training sessions and providing continuous veterinary support so that more farmers can benefit from modern, profitable poultry farming and contribute to the overall growth of the livestock sector in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
