Kwatha (Chandel), January 15: As part of the extension programme undertaken by the Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, chicks would be distributed free of cost very soon to the villagers of Kwatha under Chandel district.

According to the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Director Dr Th Dorendra, 30 poorest of the poor families of Kwatha village would be given 20 chicks each for rearing.

In addition to the 45 days to 60 days old chicks which would be distributed at Kwatha, the Department will also provide the villagers poultry feeds for the initial days.

As it needs stringent care to rear the birds, after hatching, the villagers would be given the chicks at the stage when they can be reared in the open field so that they can enhance their income a little bit, said the Director.

He further informed that the villagers of Kwatha would be imparted complete training on how to rear chicks successfully.

Even though chicken breeds like Broiler and Layers are very productive, these breeds require constant care and relatively higher technicalities.

As such, the villagers would be provided Vanaraja and Kalinga Brown breeds which are comparatively easier to rear, said Dr Dorendra.

The chicks were supposed to be distributed on January 12 but due to the economic blockade the chicks could not be transported.

Yet, the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department conducted an awareness cum training programme on how to protect the birds from diseases and to rear chicks successfully at Kwatha on the same day.

The programme was graced by News Editor of ISTV K Madhumangol as chief guest, secretary (organisation) of UCM W Second as guest of honour Veterinary Director Dr Th Dorendra as president.

Addressing the people the Director assured the villagers that the chicks would be delivered once the economic blockade is lifted and further training programmes would also be conducted.

In response to the appeal of UCM to help in ameliorating the economic woes of remote villages as part of its campaign to safeguard the integrity of Manipur and in conjunction with the extension programme already conceived by the Dept of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, the initiative to provide chicks and feeds free of cost and imparting training on rearing chicks was launched.

During the training programme held on January 12, Jt Director of Veterinary Dept Dr Th Devendrakumar spoke on poultry housing and management of backyard poultry farming while Veterinary officer Dr L Dilipkumar enlightened the villagers about preventive measures of common poultry diseases.

Comment