Mangan, 31 July (IPR): Department of Animal Husbandry Livestock and Fisheries Department, North Sikkim organized a training and broiler poultry distribution programme for 25 progressive farmers of North Sikkim. The programme was organized under Poultry Mission wherein farmers received cash component of Rs. 15,000 for the construction of poultry sheds, 200 chicks and feed supply along with other inputs to start a poultry enterprise.
The beneficiaries were briefed on the technical aspects of poultry farming, ethno veterinary medicines for disease management by Dr. Dichen Kaleon and Dr. Karma Ongmu Bhutia.
Joint Director, Animal Husbandry, Dr. Karma T. Bhutia, informed that the beneficiaries have been selected taking into consideration their capability, interest and availability of land for poultry sheds. The department will provide assistance to the farmers in starting the small enterprise and will regularly monitor to make the enterprise a success. He also stated that marketing support and feedback will be provided to the growers so that they can sell their products. The main mission of the programme was to make the farmers self-reliant and turn them into micro entrepreneurs.
The progressive poultry farmers of Pakshep have formed the Pakshep Poultry Growers Society which is currently doing brisk business in the district. The growers of the society are the main suppliers of poultry for Mangan town and the adjacent areas.
The Secretary of the society, who was the resource person at the session, stated that the business had brought them huge rewards and improved their economic status. He stated that a marketing place at Mangan bazaar was required along with uninterrupted power supply at Pakshep to further scale the business. The society was also ready to provide all support to the farmers to get into the business.
District Collector, North, Mr. Karma R Bonpo, urged the farmers to take up the scheme seriously and said that the venture would prove to very profitable to the farmers. He stated that farmers should produce as per the requirements of the market and said that demand for poultry products is directly linked to the tourist inflow in the district. The demand will be high during the tourist season and the farmers should prepare well in advance for meeting that demand, he added.
He also stressed the need for proper financial management to make the venture a success and stated that farmers need to plough back their earning into the business and not use the money for other household needs. He added that the State Government has been very proactive in rolling out various schemes and the farmers should take advantage of the scheme for their benefit. He also assured the request for providing marketing space would be taken in priority.
The Animal Husbandry Department intends to make the scheme a grand success in the district and has been working hard to train the farmers and also provide market linkage to sell the products in the market
