Backyard Poultry Scheme Boosting Rural Livelihoods in Himachal

Nahan, March 11: The Backyard Poultry Scheme being implemented by the Animal Husbandry Department of Himachal Pradesh is emerging as a strong source of income for rural and economically weaker families, helping them move towards self-employment and financial stability.

Under the scheme, beneficiaries such as Urvashi, Pradeep Kumar and Mukesh from Sirmaur district have reported significant improvements in their financial condition. By rearing chicks supplied through the Nahan hatchery, families are generating additional income through the sale of eggs and poultry.

Beneficiary Mukesh said he regularly receives 200–250 chicks per hatch from the hatchery and earns a steady income through poultry and egg sales. Similarly, Pradeep Kumar of Sarahan said the scheme has enabled his family to strengthen their household income, with his wife actively managing poultry activities alongside farming work.

The scheme distributes chicks from Nahan to five districts — Sirmaur, Solan, Una, Kinnaur and Shimla, with a target of distributing around 2 lakh day-old chicks annually at a subsidized rate of ₹32 per chick, already vaccinated for Marek’s disease.

To further strengthen poultry production, the government is constructing a modern hatchery worth about ₹2.6 crore. The department also provides one-day scientific poultry training to farmers, benefiting nearly 900 farmers every year, while 1,145 beneficiaries received training last year.

Officials said the scheme is not only increasing egg production and nutritional security in rural areas but also generating additional income through the use of poultry manure in farming and mushroom cultivation, thereby strengthening the rural economy of the state.