The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Zunheboto, Nagaland University, conducted a poultry incubator distribution program to promote sustainable livelihoods through backyard poultry farming on 27 November 2024 at the KVK conference hall in Lumami, sponsored by NABARD, Dimapur.
The welcome address was delivered by Dr Visakho Shunyu, Chief Technical Officer (Agronomy & GPB), and a brief report on the program was presented by Dr Rakesh Kumar Chaurasia, Principal Scientist & Head, who provided insights into the project. In his briefing, he mentioned that a total of 60 farmers from five villages had been provided with 100 birds each, along with poultry feed for one month, feeders, and drinkers. The birds have started laying eggs at Sumi Settsu village, and the birds in the other villages are 3–4 months old.
He further informed that under the project, each village will be provided with one egg incubator with a 230-egg capacity, which will help sustain the project and further multiply the Rainbow Rooster birds. The chicks obtained from the incubator will assist neighboring farmers and villages.
Chitubeni Krocha, District Development Manager, NABARD Kohima, urged the farmers to develop the poultry project into an entrepreneurship program, which would pave the way for success. She encouraged women farmers to multiply the chicks for meat and egg production, nutritional security, and for selling in the local market to generate extra income.
The Chief Guest of the program, Dr Abemo, Registrar, Nagaland University, encouraged the participants to work hard to make the program more meaningful in the future and requested them to utilize the incubators to produce quality chicks at their farms. He also stressed the importance of spreading the technology horizontally to neighboring villages. He appreciated the efforts made by KVK to promote sustainable poultry farming in the five villages and thanked the DDM NABARD for visiting the farmers’ fields and attending the poultry incubator distribution program. He requested NABARD Dimapur to come up with more programs in the future to improve the socio-economic conditions of the farmers in collaboration with KVK Zunheboto.
A total of five incubators were distributed among farmers from the five villages. The program concluded with a vote of thanks by Edenly Chishi, Chief Technical Officer (Horticulture), KVK, NU.