Sri Vijaya Puram, Mar 15: In a major step to promote backyard poultry farming and support rural livelihoods in Baratang Island, the Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, Andaman & Nicobar Administration, distributed 540 Vanaraja chicks and 40 guinea fowl keets — a total of 580 improved poultry birds — to 30 beneficiary farmers of Baratang Village on 13 March 2026. The birds, which included both day-old and reared chicks/keets, were supplied from the Government Poultry Farm and Central Hatchery at Livestock Farm Complex, Dollygunj, under the Rotational Chicks Distribution Programme.
The initiative aims at encouraging farmers to adopt scientific backyard poultry rearing as a sustainable source of income and to improve household nutritional security. Vanaraja birds are an improved dual-purpose poultry variety especially suited for backyard conditions. They are hardy, disease-resistant and highly adaptable to the local island environment. These birds are capable of efficient scavenging, utilising locally available feed resources, and provide both good-quality meat and egg production, making them ideal for rural poultry production systems. The guinea fowl keets further diversify the portfolio of birds being introduced to the farmers.
The Department is committed to enhancing rural livelihoods by promoting improved poultry breeds like Vanaraja and guinea fowl through such targeted distribution programmes. Backyard poultry farming not only generates additional income for the families but also contributes significantly to nutritional security for rural households. Initiatives such as the Rotational Chicks Distribution Programme ensure equitable access to quality improved poultry breeds across all villages of the islands.
The Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services continues its sustained efforts to strengthen the poultry sector in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands through regular supply of improved chicks and keets, technical guidance and farmer training programmes.
