Krishi Vigyan Kendra holds week-long training programme on poultry farming

The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in Kapurthala, in collaboration with Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and ICAR-ATARI, Zone-1 Ludhiana, successfully conducted a seven-day training programme on poultry farming from September 15-24. The programme was attended by 12 farmers, women farmers and young participants who were eager to learn modern poultry practices.

Dr Harinder Singh, in-charge of KVK, Kapurthala, highlighted the importance of poultry farming as a source of income and employment, motivating participants to adopt scientific methods and take full advantage of the services offered by KVK. The course was coordinated by Dr Kanwarpal Singh Dhillon, Assistant Professor (Animal Science), KVK Amritsar, who provided detailed guidance on various aspects of poultry management, including types of poultry, egg hatching and hatchery management, chick rearing, housing and feeding, broiler management, backyard poultry, egg marketing, poultry economics, record keeping, vaccination programmes, seasonal strategies, biosecurity measures and disease prevention. A practical demonstration on “candling of eggs to identify fertile and infertile eggs” was also conducted.

In addition, Avneet Kaur, Associate Professor (Home Science), educated participants about the nutritional benefits of eggs and meat for children, pregnant women and the elderly, while Dr Gagandeep Dhawan, Assistant Professor (Soil Science), explained the role of poultry manure in enhancing soil fertility and plant growth. Dr Raman Kumar, Veterinary Officer, shared information on government schemes and facilities available for poultry farmers under NLM, and JS Bindra, DDM, NABARD, informed participants about government funding and subsidy programmes. Kirandeep Singh, a successful poultry farmer, shared his first-hand experience regarding challenges in starting poultry business and insights into contract farming.

The participants also visited a layer farm in Subhanpur village to observe practical operations and directly interact with the farmers, gaining hands-on knowledge and clarifying their doubts. The programme successfully combined theoretical knowledge with practical exposure, equipping farmers with the skills and confidence required to undertake poultry farming on a commercial or household scale.