Guwahati: A Nagaland University-led backyard poultry initiative has helped 60 women from self-help groups (SHGs) in Zunheboto district earn more than Rs 30.8 lakh, demonstrating how low-cost technology and scientific farming can strengthen rural livelihoods and improve nutritional security.
Implemented by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Zunheboto, under Nagaland University with financial support from NABARD, the project equipped women across five villages with low-cost egg incubators, scientific poultry management skills, Rainbow Rooster chicks, feed, vaccination support and essential poultry equipment.
The initiative comes at a time when Nagaland faces a significant poultry deficit. According to the state’s Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Nagaland has an annual shortfall of over 1,520 lakh eggs and nearly 38.5 metric tonnes of poultry meat, highlighting the need for sustainable local production.
The programme covered women SHG members in Sumisettsu, Zaphumi, Lumami, Alaphumi and Shichimi villages in Akuluto block. During the project period, beneficiary households consumed 1,380 birds and sold 2,135 birds, generating a cumulative income of Rs 30.8 lakh. They also produced 22,618 eggs, boosting both household nutrition and earnings. On average, each beneficiary earned around Rs 32,600.
Project leader Rakesh Kumar Chaurasia, Principal Scientist and Head of KVK Zunheboto, said the introduction of village-level low-cost egg incubators has created a sustainable local supply of chicks, reducing dependence on external sources while supporting poultry farmers in neighbouring villages.
He said beneficiaries were trained in scientific feeding, low-cost housing, vaccination, disease management and feed preparation using locally available resources, helping improve productivity while lowering production costs.
Congratulating the KVK team, Nagaland University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Jagadish K. Patnaik said the project reflects the university’s commitment to using science and innovation to empower rural communities.
“The success of this NABARD-assisted backyard poultry initiative demonstrates how research can be translated into practical solutions that enhance livelihoods, improve nutritional security and promote sustainable rural development,” he said.
The findings of the project have been published in the International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development, underscoring its potential as a scalable model for other remote areas of Nagaland and the Northeast where access to quality poultry inputs and technical support remains limited.