Sri Vijaya Puram, June 15: When the pandemic struck and her husband lost his job, the family faced severe financial uncertainty. Instead of giving in to despair, Mrs. Rajini decided to turn her earlier training into a sustainable livelihood. She had received poultry management training at the Livestock Farm Complex, Dollygunj, under the Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services (AH&VS). That knowledge became her greatest strength during the crisis.
With limited resources and strong willpower, Mrs. Rajini started small. Using locally available materials, she designed and built her own incubator with technical guidance from the Department. She began hatching eggs of indigenous (desi) birds, carefully rearing the chicks with dedication. The initial batches were modest, but they laid the foundation for a steady income. She sold hatchlings and reared some birds herself, gradually building confidence and a customer base.
Encouraged by her early success, she expanded her activities by including ducks and other bird varieties. Later, she constructed a proper shed for broiler farming. With each step, her enterprise grew stronger. Mrs. Rajini Kiran runs a successful diversified poultry unit and earns an average of ₹20,000 per month.
Her story is a powerful testimony to how skill-based training and self-belief can transform challenges into opportunities. What started as a survival strategy during tough times has now become a thriving small business, providing financial independence and stability to her family.
The Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services appreciates Mrs. Rajini Kiran’s hard work and determination. Her success highlights the importance of backyard poultry farming as a viable livelihood option, especially for women in rural and semi-urban areas.
The Department remains committed to empowering more women and farmers through skill development, technical guidance, and various poultry and livestock development schemes across the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
