ICAR-NOFRI Demonstrated Technology on Vanaraja Chicken Farming at Burtuk, East Sikkim
Press release: dated 29th Jan 2017
A technology demonstration - cum - chicks distribution programme on backyard poultry farming with Vanaraja chicken under Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) of Poultry Seed Project was organized at Burtuk, East Sikkim on 29th January 2018 for the tribal farmers of Burtuk, NamNang and Gangtok areas of East Sikkim. More than 40 poultry farmers attended the training programme. Coordinating the programme, Dr. Rafiqul Islam, Senior Scientist and in charge, Poultry Seed Project welcomed Dr. Ravikant Avasthe, Joint Director, ICAR-National Organic Farming Research Institute (NOFRI), Tadong and the participants to the programme and explained the aim of the Institute to boost the poultry sector in the peri-urban and urban areas of Gangtok with the Vanaraja Backyard poultry farming technology. He highlighted the potential of Vanaraja chicken farming in Sikkim for increased eggs and chicken meat production. Dr. Islam also informed the participants that the high demand of local chicken meat and eggs amongst the consumers could be met by Vanaraja chicken farming as the birds are multicoloured and attractive appearance simulating the native chickens, due to which it has become popular all throughout the Sikkim State.
Dr. Ravikant Avasthe, Joint Director, ICAR- NOFRI addressed the participants as chief guest. He educated the farmers about the role of Vanaraja chicken in meeting the nutrition requirements of the family with the production of high quality eggs and meat with comparatively much higher production rate than the native chicken. He enlightened the participants about the role of Vanaraja poultry farming for strengthening livelihood of tribal families. He advised and encouraged the women farmers and unemployed youths to undertake Vanaraja chicken farming as an enterprise for being self employed as the capital investment and labour requirement is very less. The employed and students can also undertake backyard poultry farming as it requires about an hour a day which can be managed beyond working hours.
Dr. Rafiqul Islam, Senior Scientist, Animal Reproduction elaborated the trainees about housing, feeding and therapeutic management of Vanaraja chicks at various age groups. He demonstrated the technologies regarding the production techniques of Vanaraja farming for eggs and chicken meat production separately. He also emphasised on the maintenance of hygienic measures and immunization of the birds for protecting them from various diseases. Dr. Islam further reiterated that backyard poultry farming is very close to organic farming where most of the guidelines are followed. He highlighted the importance of restricted feeding schedule for economising egg production in Vanaraja layers. Citing examples of many successful farmers of Sikkim, Dr. Islam explained to farmers the process to maintain more than 3:1 benefit: cost ratio in their poultry farms.
Later 1500 nos. of Vanaraja day old chicks were distributed to the participating farmers alongwith handouts about the rearing practices. Dr. Priya Chettri and Dr. Padam Lal Luitel, Senior Research Fellow (SRF) and Mr. K. B. Basnett, Technical Officer also interacted with the farmers during distribution of the day old chicks and rendered their active participation in the programme.
Issued by: ICAR-NOFRI, Tadong
