To increase farmers’ income, the central and state governments are continuously adopting new models. In this regard, indigenous poultry farming is being promoted as a profitable business. Under the National Livestock Mission, the Uttar Pradesh government is paying special attention to the conservation and commercial expansion of indigenous chicken breeds. The biggest advantage of this scheme is that instead of selling chickens, farmers can earn better profits by selling the chicks produced from them.
The Changed Model of Poultry Farming
In this new system, farmers will not have to depend directly on egg or meat production. Chicks will be produced from eggs using modern hatchery technology, for which there is a constant demand in the poultry sector. This provides farmers with an opportunity for regular income and also reduces the risk.
Project Size and Cost
According to the Chief Veterinary Officer, farmers can start this unit with 1000 indigenous hens and 50 roosters. A project of approximately Rs. 50 lakhs have been prepared for this. Installing a modern hatchery machine is mandatory in this project, so that healthy chicks can be produced from the eggs and the indigenous breed can be promoted.
Who can avail of the scheme?
To avail of this scheme, the farmer must have at least one acre of private land. If the land is not owned, there should be a registered lease for at least 10 years. Along with this, the applicant must have a poultry farming training certificate from a recognised institution. Applications will not be accepted without training and sufficient land.
Land and Loan Related Conditions
The government has clarified that the proposed land must be completely free from disputes. Projects will not be approved under this scheme on land that already has a loan or Kisan Credit Card outstanding. The land being free from encumbrances is one of the major conditions of this scheme.
Subsidy and Financial Arrangement
Out of the total project cost of Rs. 50 lakhs, the farmer will have to invest approximately Rs. 5 lakhs themselves. In addition, taking a bank loan of ₹20 lakh is mandatory. As soon as the farmer spends 25 percent of the total cost, the first instalment of the subsidy is transferred to their account. The remaining subsidy amount is released after the project is completed and verified.
Application Process and the Government’s Objective
Interested farmers have to apply online on the Udyam Mitra portal. After departmental verification, the application will be sent to the concerned bank, where the bank will sanction the loan according to its terms and conditions. The government’s objective is to create new employment opportunities in rural areas through this model, increase farmers’ income, and ensure the conservation of indigenous poultry breeds.