Sri Vijaya Puram, November 14: Twelve farmers in Car Nicobar have received 400 Vanaraja birds under the Animal Husbandry Department’s backyard poultry initiative, which aims to increase household-level egg and meat production while creating an additional source of income for rural families.
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (AH&VS), Andaman and Nicobar Administration, distributed the birds to beneficiaries from Small Lapathy, Big Lapathy and Tamaloo villages. The consignment included four-week-old chicks and 10-week-old grower birds.
The birds were supplied through the Composite Livestock Farm (CLF) at Arong, where the department reared them after receiving them from the Central Hatchery. Before distribution, the farm carried out brooding and management procedures and administered vaccinations to prepare the birds for transfer to the beneficiary households.
The distribution is part of the department’s efforts to promote backyard poultry farming in remote areas of Nicobar district. The initiative focuses on supporting small-scale household production through the rearing of dual-purpose birds that can provide both eggs and meat.
Vanaraja birds are considered suitable for backyard rearing. The department’s programme seeks to improve access to poultry products at the household level while enabling farmers to earn additional income through poultry management.
The department will continue to provide technical guidance and veterinary assistance to the beneficiaries. Its support will include vaccination, healthcare services and advice on the proper management and rearing of the birds.
The distribution places the responsibility for raising the birds with the beneficiary households, while the department’s planned follow-up support is intended to help farmers manage their poultry stock.
