Layer poultry estate to come up near Baripada

Expressbuzz, Oct 26, 2010
BHUBANESWAR: The first layer poultry estate in the country focusing solely on egg production is soon going to take shape at Gobardhan Sula near Baripada in Mayurbhanj district.


Land for the around Rs 10-crore project involving the Centre, State and farmers has been demarcated and work for establishment of the facility is set to commence soon. It is targetted to be up and functional within a year.

The estate would have participation of 100 farmers from the Scheduled Tribes and backward sections with a capacity of two lakh layer birds.

Each farmer would have at least 2,000 layer birds and the egg production per day is envisaged to be over 1.60 lakh.

The one-of-its kind facility would give a huge boost to egg production in the State that is lagging far behind in terms of both availability and consumption in the country.

The present per capita availability of eggs in Orissa is around 37 compared to the National average of 43.

Production of eggs is around 28 lakhs per day with 22 lakh coming from the commercial layer sector and around six lakh from other sources against a requirement of 64 lakh eggs.

With as many as 17 districts lacking any commercial layer farms, the State government is planning to encourage enterprise in such regions.

The vision of the government is to achieve one crore egg production per day by 2020, Minister for Animal Resources Development and Fisheries Damodar Rout said.

Inaugurating the State-level poultry entrepreneurs meet, with special focus of layer enterprise, he said that 48 hatcheries are being established while the existing ones are being expanded.

Poultry development through the SHGs is also a major programme with the groups provided with high-yielding layer chicken varieties.

The State though has become self sufficient in poultry meet production.

With over 4,600 broiler farms, production of meat has touched 56,000 tonne in 2009-10 from 53,000 tonne in 2008-09.

Among others, Secretary ARD Satyabrata Sahu, Apicol Chairman BK Rath and Director AHVS Ashok Kumar Sahu were present.