In Agricultural sector, poultry stand out distinctly as a forerunner as far as the rate of progress is concerned. Certain inherent attributes associated with poultry such as lower input, short gestation period, efficiency of production and, quicker and better returns favour adoption of poultry, both as full time and part time employment. Poultry sector in India is growing at 15-20 percent annually. The J&K in general and valley of Kashmir in particular by virtue of its unique agro-climatic conditions and food habits favours higher per capita consumption of animal products
Unfortunately poultry sector failed to pickup in Kashmir due to various reasons. In J&K there is 69% shortfall in poultry meat production and 97% shortfall in poultry egg production. The gap between production and requirement is partially fulfilled by purchase of huge quantities of live broilers and eggs from neighboring states thus draining the state exchequer to the tune of Rs 4 billion. While some headway has been made in commercial broiler production, commercial layer industry is virtually non-existent. Limited egg production comes from backyard poultry which has witnessed revival thanks to popularization of strains like Vanraja.
In this backdrop an innovative farming system approach was tried. If successful it would certainly increase local egg production in the valley.
A progressive farmer Asrullah Habib from Argam, Bandipore approached Center for Research on Poultry, SKUAST-Kashmir for technical guidance on Layer farming. He was advised to go for commercial broiler farming and practical difficulties faced in commercial layer farming were explained to him, but he insisted for an out of box approach for successful commercial layer farming and even volunteered to bear the risk of testing any such innovative approach. Farmer was found to be sincere and was not seeking any form of subsidy or concessions. Since farmer already had an Apple Orchard at Chitti, Bandipore he was advised to go for free-range layer farming. He was guided to procure day old chicks (DOCs) of commercial layer stock (Keystone-Golden), their intensive brooding for 4-weeks and subsequent shift to free-range-rearing. Vaccination against RD, IB and IBD was carried out. De-beaking was carried out on 10th day and repeated at 4-months of age. Commercial chick mash was provided adlib for four weeks. Afterwards, birds were allowed free access to apple orchard during day and confined to shelter during night. Birds fed on herbage insects and other scavenging resources during the day and offered supplementary feeding.. Thus dependence on feed was reduced by 80%.
The eggs being of a free range origin and having attractive off-white egg shell colour, farmer is getting premium prices for his eggs. He sells eggs at Rs90-100 a dozen. He has been able to sell some laying hens as well at Rs600-700/hen. Farmer is quite satisfied with the enterprise and plans to increase the size of operations from present 400 layers to 600. The innovative farming system approach adopted by Asrullah Habib caught attention of print and electronic media and success story appeared in local dailies and on Doordarshan. Getting inspired by his success several other un-employed youth have approached Center for Research on Poultry, SKUAST-Kashmir for guidance in taking up similar enterprise.
State of J&K has an area of 1.6 lac hectares under apple orchards. The area between the trees remains under utilized. Allowing hens to scavenge in the fruit orchards would substantially decrease the feeding cost which constitutes the major input in poultry production. The poultry droppings would in turn improve the soil fertility. The innovative integrated farming model adopted by Assrullah Habib, if replicated across the Valley has a potential to boost local egg production, strengthen integrated farming systems, optimize resource utilization and increase farm income.
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