Lumami , July 14: A community-based initiative led by Nagaland University has proved how scientific backyard poultry farming and low-cost egg incubators can significantly boost rural livelihoods and nutritional security.
This project empowered women self-help groups in Zunheboto district, enabling them to collectively generate more than INR 30.8 lakh while increasing the local availability of poultry meat and eggs.
The ‘Promoting Sustainable Livelihood and Nutritional Security of Women SHGs through Low-Cost Egg Incubator and Backyard Poultry Production’ project was executed by Krishi Vigyan Kendra , Zunheboto, under Nagaland University with financial support from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development .
The initiative addresses one of Nagaland’s pressing challenges – a substantial gap between the demand and supply of poultry meat and eggs. According to the Annual Administrative Report of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Nagaland faces an annual shortfall of more than 1,520 lakh eggs and nearly 38.5 metric tonnes of meat, making locally sustainable poultry production essential for improving food security.
The project was led by Principal Investigator Dr. Rakesh Kumar Chaurasia and the KVK, Zunheboto team, Nagaland University, who provided continuous technical guidance, regular field visits, disease monitoring and capacity building to ensure the successful adoption of improved poultry farming practices.
The impact of this project was published in the International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development , a peer-reviewed journal that publishes research on agricultural extension, rural development, agricultural education, and the social dimensions of agriculture and allied sciences.
Congratulating Krishi Vigyan Kendra on the success of this project, Prof. Jagadish K Patnaik, Vice Chancellor, Nagaland University, said,
“The success of this NABARD-assisted backyard poultry initiative reflects Nagaland University’s commitment to empowering rural communities through science, innovation and extension. By equipping women Self-Help Groups with scientific poultry farming practices and low-cost egg incubators, we are not only enhancing their livelihoods but also contributing to nutritional security and sustainable rural development. I congratulate all the beneficiaries, our partners, and the University team for this impactful achievement, and I am confident that this model will inspire similar initiatives across the region.”
The programme covered 60 women SHG members across five villages – Sumisettsu, Zaphumi, Lumami, Alaphumi and Shichimi – in Akuluto Block of Zunheboto district. Participants received scientific training in backyard poultry management along with Rainbow Rooster day-old chicks, feed for the initial 20 days, vaccination and medication support, poultry equipment, and low-cost egg incubators that enable year-round chick production at the village level.
Highlighting the impact of this project, Dr. Rakesh Kumar Chaurasia, Principal Scientist and Head, Krishi Vigyan Kendra Zunheboto, Nagaland University, said,
“An important innovation of the project has been the introduction of low-cost incubators at the village level. The incubators have already begun producing chicks, creating a sustainable local supply that is expected to reduce dependence on external sources while supporting poultry farmers in neighbouring villages.”
Dr. Rakesh Kumar Chaurasia added,
“In addition to increasing incomes, the initiative has empowered women by creating locally managed livelihood opportunities, reducing drudgery, and strengthening household food security. Farmers were also trained in scientific feeding, low-cost housing, vaccination, disease management and feed formulation using locally available resources to improve productivity while lowering production costs.”
The programme has already produced encouraging results. Beneficiary households consumed 1,380 birds while selling another 2,135 birds, increasing household meat availability by an average of 66.7 kilograms and generating a cumulative income of INR 30,80,360 during the reporting period.
The farmers also produced 22,618 eggs, which were either consumed at home or sold in local markets, contributing directly to improved family nutrition and household incomes. On average, each beneficiary has earned a net income of approximately INR 32,592 under the programme to date.
The project team is anticipating that incomes will increase further as the birds reach full laying capacity and farmers begin selling larger quantities of eggs, chicks and culled birds. The successful implementation has demonstrated a scalable model that can be replicated in other remote blocks of Nagaland where access to quality poultry inputs and technical support remains limited.
The project highlights the role of university-led extension programmes in translating research and scientific knowledge into practical solutions that improve rural livelihoods while addressing nutritional challenges in the state.