SKUAST-K Boosts Tribal Incomes with Backyard Poultry Distribution Drive

SRINAGAR, Jan 7, 2026 — In a major push toward enhancing rural livelihoods and household nutrition, SKUAST-K’s Division of Livestock Production and Management (LPM) organized a specialized backyard poultry distribution program at the Shuhama Campus. Conducted under the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST) and the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Poultry, the initiative provided 30 tribal farmers with improved Gramapriya chicks. This specific strain was selected for its hardiness and ability to thrive in the local agro-climatic conditions of Jammu and Kashmir.

Beyond the distribution of livestock, the program served as a comprehensive training session where farmers were educated on scientific rearing practices, including biosecurity measures, brooding management, and disease prevention to ensure long-term sustainability.

Dr. Hilal Musadiq Khan, Head of the Division of LPM, emphasized that these ICAR–DAPST interventions are designed to be holistic capacity-building initiatives rather than simple input-distribution events. He urged the farming community to maintain strong ties with the university for ongoing technical support and performance monitoring.

The participating farmers appreciated the initiative, noting that such livestock development programs are vital for securing both income and nutritional stability in remote areas. The event concluded with SKUAST-K reaffirming its commitment to inclusive and nutrition-sensitive agricultural growth through continued farmer-centric interventions across the region.