Hyderabad: The Telangana government is rapidly adopting traditional and modern methods to create new employment opportunities for youth and women in rural areas and to generate additional income for farmers.
In this regard, the government has decided to promote the breeding of indigenous chickens on a large scale so that the eaters get protein and the keepers earn income.
In the past, a large number of indigenous chickens were found in every village, but over time, their number has decreased significantly. According to the National Livestock Census, there were 8,20,134 indigenous chickens in Telangana in 2014, which has reduced to 5,10,552 by 2025. On the other hand, the demand for indigenous chicken meat in cities is quite high. In this context, the government has prepared a plan for the distribution of free chickens in every village.
The project will be implemented by the departments of Agriculture, Rural Development, Horticulture and Panchayat Raj along with the concerned universities.
Chickens will be provided to Dalit and tribal families under the SC, ST sub-plan. Six thousand indigenous chickens have already been distributed in Malg, Nalgonda and Mehboobad districts under the supervision of the Horticulture University.
Farmers can set up chicken sheds in their fields or courtyards with little investment and can earn profit by selling eggs and meat in weekly markets and local markets. The shed can be constructed under the MGNREGA scheme.
The government will provide Rs 3 lakh for a large “mother unit” shed. In this unit, chicks will be produced and given to other villagers for breeding. Assistance of up to Rs 1 lakh will be provided for small units. Chickens will be provided at subsidized rates and loan facility will also be provided under the Kisan Credit Card. Under the “Mahila Shakti” scheme, two mother units and 100 small units will be set up in each mandal for which loan facility will be provided by the Rural Poverty Alleviation Agency.
“I am growing chillies in one acre of land,” said Valsa Shiv, a farmer from Shankararajupally, Malg district. “I have built a mother unit shed with Rs. 3 lakh under the MGNREGA scheme. I am currently raising 500 indigenous chickens in it. Even after expenses, I am earning Rs. 50,000 per month. This is easily meeting all the household expenses.”
Raising indigenous chickens is proving to be a low-labor and high-income earner. Due to the increasing demand for their meat in the market, women are also showing interest in raising chickens. SERP officials are going to provide chicks to women’s organizations. Officials say that women can earn good income through this business with less labor while staying at home, which is why women are showing increasing interest in it.
