Hyderabad: The Telangana government is preparing to revive traditional poultry rearing practices in villages to boost rural livelihoods and bridge the growing demand for poultry products in cities. With the vision of “those who eat gain proteins, those who raise gain income,” the state aims to create new income opportunities for farmers, women, and unemployed youth through backyard and small-scale poultry farming.
According to the National Livestock Census, the poultry population in Telangana dropped from 8,20,134 chickens in 2014 to 5,10,552 in 2025, even as urban demand for chicken meat and eggs has risen steadily. To reverse this trend, the government has rolled out a comprehensive action plan involving the Departments of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Horticulture, Panchayat Raj, Rural Development, and allied universities.
Implementation Plan
- Chick Distribution: Under the SC and ST sub-plan, chicks are being distributed to Dalit and tribal families. Nearly 6,000 have already been distributed in Mahabubabad, Mulugu, and Nalgonda districts.
- Infrastructure Support: Farmers are encouraged to build poultry sheds in their backyards or fields with minimal investment. Sheds can also be constructed under the Employment Guarantee Scheme.
- Financial Aid:
- Large “mother units” (raising chicks to supply across villages) receive ₹3 lakh assistance.
- Small units receive â‚ą1 lakh assistance.
- Chicks will be supplied on a subsidized basis, and loans will be available through Kisan Credit Cards.
- Women Empowerment: Under the Mahila Shakti Scheme, two large units and 100 small units are sanctioned for each mandal. Additional loan support will be provided through SERP (Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty).
Success Story
The impact of the scheme is already visible. Valasa Shiva, a farmer from Shankararajupally in Mulugu district, shifted from chilli cultivation to poultry farming.
“With ₹3 lakh assistance under the Employment Guarantee Scheme, I built a mother unit shed and started rearing 500 broiler chickens. Today, I earn around ₹50,000 per month without any extra expenses,” he shared.
Looking Ahead
Officials believe that such initiatives will strengthen rural incomes while ensuring that urban markets have a steady supply of poultry products. If scaled effectively, Telangana could witness a revival of poultry rearing as a profitable and sustainable rural enterprise.
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