Poultry business thriving in Kashmir Valley

Srinagar, July 30 : The new breeds of poultry birds introduced by the Department of Animal Husbandry Department have boosted the production of eggs and the number of broiler chicken in the Kashmir valley.

Business of poultry birds has witnessed tremendous progress over the last few years. Its credit lies with the Department of Animal Husbandry for introducing new breeds of layers and broilers.

Alongside, the poultry farm owners are also trained in the latest techniques to manage birds. All these progressive steps have consequently helped fabulous increase in the production of eggs as well as broiler birds.

Earlier, the poultry business was confronting several odds.

However, with the introduction of new breeds like One Raja, Japanese quails, turkey, and Kashmir commercial layer (KCL) birds, the production from poultry farms has almost trebled.

For instance, Hariparbat Hatchery is one among the poultry farms, which boasts of breeding and dealing in different varieties of exotic breeds.

"Our poultry used to give very few eggs. So we made a project to increase their productivity. We brought in exotic breeds, which can give better eggs quantity and quality to the public. We have improved on the production last year. We had given 1, 57,000 chicken to the public in which 57,000 were boiler chicks and 100,000 were egg laying ones," said Ishtiaq Ahmed Wani, Technical Officer, Hariparbat Hatchery.

Hariparbat Hatchery has thus recorded ever increasing sales during in last few yeas, evident being customers, the bulk buyers as well domestic consumers, converging here for quality poultry produce.

"Earlier, the Government did not give us enough poultry products from the hatchery centres but now we are getting good products. We have bought over a 100,000 of chicken last year and this year we have bought 22,000 chicken products, which include all varieties of it. Hariparbat Hatchery centre is giving good chicken products these days," said Fayaz Ahmed, a customer.

A particular breed named Chabra has been found to be useful both as a broiler bird and a layer.

To meet the needs of the end consumers, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has made elaborate arrangements for quick transport of poultry farm products in the valley and also the Ladakh region.

Reportedly, in the Kargil sector, the consumption of poultry farm produce is the highest.

"The Chabra breed is beneficial for Kargil. It is a breed, which serves dual purposes. This benefits the poor and rural people who can sell eggs as well as consume the meat from such breeds. The Joint Director of the Poultry Department here is co-operating a lot with us and we get a good response from here," said Gulzar Ahmed, a customer from Kargil

The State Animal Husbandry Department is maintaining a strict vigil on the poultry and poultry products in the valley and is continuously collecting samples to check the disease. By Bilal Butt

ANI