Srinagar, Oct 2: The Division of Livestock Production and Management (LPM), SKUAST-K, organised a chick distribution programme at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Shuhama campus, as part of the ongoing SEWA PARW initiative.
Around 40 tribal beneficiaries from the Ganderbal belt, particularly Dignibal and Allusteng, received backyard poultry units consisting of four-week-old improved Gramapriya chicks along with poultry feed. The programme, implemented under the Tribal Sub-Plan of the ICAR-funded All India Coordinated Project on Poultry Breeding (AICRP), aims to improve livelihood opportunities and ensure nutritional security among tribal households.
The event was attended by Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K; Prof. Haroon Rashid Naik, Director Research; and Prof. Azmat Alam Khan, Registrar SKUAST-K and Principal Investigator of AICRP on Poultry Breeding.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai highlighted the vital role of backyard poultry in enhancing nutritional security and rural incomes. He encouraged farmers, particularly women, to explore value addition in poultry products such as organic and free-range eggs, which are witnessing growing urban demand.
Prof. Haroon Rashid Naik urged farmers to rear the birds with scientific care and assured continuous technical support from experts at the Division of LPM. He stressed that community-level adoption of backyard poultry can significantly contribute to rural upliftment and food security.
Prof. Azmat Alam Khan outlined ongoing R&D initiatives under AICRP, HADP, and DST-funded projects designed to strengthen Kashmir’s poultry sector. He assured tribal farmers of sustained technical and field support under the DAPST framework, reaffirming SKUAST-K’s commitment to farmer-centric and sustainable poultry production models.