SKUAST-K strengthens tribal livelihoods through backyard poultry

RK News
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08 Jan 2026

Srinagar, Jan 07: SKUAST-K's Division of Livestock Production and Management (LPM), Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry organised a Backyard Poultry Chick Distribution Programme at the Shuhama Campus under the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST)- AICRP on Poultry.

According to a statement issued here, the programme was conducted as part of the ongoing DAPST programmes in AICRP on Poultry enhance livelihood security, household nutrition, and income generation among tribal and rural farming communities. During the program, 30 beneficiary farmers were providedwith improved Gramapriya chicks, a hardy backyard poultry strain well-suited to local agro-climatic conditions.

The programme was coordinated by Dr Zulfiqar-ul-Haq, who briefed the farmers on scientific backyard poultry rearing practices, including brooding management, feeding strategies, health care, and biosecurity measures. He emphasized that backyard poultry, when managed scientifically, can serve as a reliable source of supplementary income and high-quality animal protein for rural households.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Hilal Musadiq Khan, Head, Division of LPM, highlighted the strategic importance of backyard poultry under tribal development programmes.

He stated that ICAR–DAPST interventions are designed not merely as input-distribution activities but as holistic capacity-building initiatives

aimed at long-term sustainability. He encouraged farmers to adopt recommended practices and maintain close linkage with the Division for technical support, disease management, and performance monitoring.

The programme witnessed active participation from farmers, who expressed appreciation for the initiative and interacted with scientists on practical

challenges related to backyard poultry rearing. The event concluded with an assurance from the Division of LPM to continue farmer-centric interventions

under ICAR–DAPST, reinforcing SKUAST-K’s role in promoting inclusive,sustainable, and nutrition-sensitive livestock development in the region.