• Investment World
• eWorld
• Catalyst
• Mentor
• Life
• Canvas
• Praxis
• Urban Pulse
• Brand Quest

Stocks

• Quotes
• SE Diary
• Scoreboard
• Open-End Mutual Fund

Port Info

• Ships in Ports
  
  

Archives

• Yesterday
• Datewise
• Resources

Group Sites

• The Hindu
• Business Line
• The Sportstar
• Frontline
• The Hindu eBooks
• The Hindu Images

Our Bureau

Kolkata , June 27

THE Department of Animal Resources Development of the West Bengal Government on Monday announced a Rs 1.8-crore scheme that aims at achieving the twin objectives of providing economic sustenance to one lakh self-help women groups and also bridging the gap between the demand and supply of eggs in the State.

Speaking to newspersons at Writers' Buildings here , Mr Anisur Rahaman, the State Minister for Animal Resources Development, said one lakh self-help groups in the State, comprising 10 women each, would be given 10 one-day-old chicks and ducklings at a nominal cost of Re 1 each. These Rhode Island Red chicks would be obtained from the 22 State Government-owned poultry farms located across West Bengal. The leaders of the self-help groups would be trained in rearing these chicks and ducklings. The State Government would provide food and medicines required by the chicks/ducklings.

Mr Rahaman said the State Government would be required to spend Rs 18 on each chick. This would cost the State Exchequer Rs 1.8 crore in the current fiscal. This amount would be expended from the State's planned budget.

According to him, the initiative was aimed at providing self-help women groups with an income avenue. They would be free to sell the eggs laid by the chicks when they grow up and also facilitate breeding for generating greater numbers for poultry meat for consumption. About 10 crore extra eggs are expected to be generated every year by virtue of this initiative. If the initiative serves its purpose, it would be repeated next year as well, the Minister said.

West Bengal generates about 300-crore chicken eggs every year. The requirement, however, has been pegged at over 1,000 crore eggs a year. About 75 lakh eggs are imported into the State from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka every year, according to Mr Rahaman.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Pawar asks CMs to personally monitor farm credit

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line