West Bengal government ramping up production of eggs

The latest among them are the setting up of two chicken farms in Kalyani in Nadia district and in Barjora in Bankura district at a  combined cost of Rs 60 crore. 

Then, a chicken farm in Boromoholla in  Birbhum district is being renovated to augment production. At Labhpur in Birbhum district, the department is setting up a duck farm.

According to sources in the ARD Department, about 2.5 crore eggs, including chicken and duck, are required daily in the state. To ensure  that the state produces the required number, various measures are being  taken to encourage people to set up chicken and duck farms.

All these are outlined in the Incentive Policy 2017 for poultry farmers that the  ARD Department has chalked up. For augmenting production on the basis of  this policy, the Finance Department has allotted Rs 2015 crore.

As part of the policy, the department is providing subsidy to the extent of Rs 80 lakh for people working towards augmenting egg production.

A person who will be producing 10,000 birds (chicken or duck) will  get an incentive of upto Rs 8 lakh. Among other incentives are the requirement for only part payment of the electricity bill for farm  owners, discount on the loan repayment amount and removal of stamp duty. The result of these measures, according to the ARD Department, is the submission of applications for setting up 43 poultry farms.

The government is distributing young chickens and ducklings to farmers and rural self-help groups across the state.

During the current financial year (2017-18), 60 lakh young chickens will be distributed. Of this number, 12 lakh will be distributed among almost 7,000 self-help  groups (SHG). West Bengal Livestock Development Corporation is primarily responsible for implementing these decisions.