A total of 160 poultry farmers in Vellore district would be benefited by a poultry development scheme to be implemented in the district, according to Dr. T. Manoharan, Regional Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry.
Grievances day meet
Giving this information at the monthly agriculturists’ grievances day meeting at the Collectorate here on Friday, Dr. Manoharan said that the financial allotment has been received for the scheme.
Under this scheme, the selected beneficiaries would be given 50 per cent subsidy.
On buying 250 chicks and rearing them for three months and marketing them, each beneficiary would be given a front-end subsidy of 25 per cent amounting to Rs.38,375 in the first spell after inspection of the shed.
After this, the beneficiary can apply for the remaining 25 per cent back-end subsidy. Again, they would be given a 50 per cent subsidy for buying 250 chicks in the second spell.
Subsidy
After marketing them, they would be given 30 per cent subsidy as incentive in the third spell. The birds can be sold through the Uzhavar Sandhais (farmers’ markets), he said.
When a farmer wanted permission for sale of fowls in the Uzhavar Sandhais, Ramakrishnan, Personal Assistant (Agriculture) to the Collector said that the proposal is under the consideration of the government.
Production, distribution of organic manure
G.S. Purushothaman, president, Organic Farming Organization (OFO), Vellore wanted the government to produce organic manure through the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and distribute them to farmers in order to encourage the use of organic manure which aids soil enrichment.
Mr. Purushothaman said that the nutrient content of the soil in Vellore district had been reduced to 0.34 per cent today from 1.1 per cent in 1971 owing to the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers.
The Organic Farming Organisation has proved that the lost soil wealth can be restored through the application of a formulation of liquid organic manure called `Jeevamruth’ in Sri Narayani Peedam, Vellore.
Regional Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry says the financial allotment has been received for the scheme
