Perambalur district is making rapid strides in poultry farming and is emerging as a close second to Namakkal.
Under the scheme for development of poultry clusters in the non-poultry backward regions of the State announced in the budget for 2012-13, there are 128 poultry units in the district and many more are in the making. The Government announced 163 units for 2012-13 in Perambalur district, 100 for 2013-14 and100 for 20014-15.
Of the 163 units for 2012-13, 118 are functioning and others are in the process of development. For 2013-14, 100 units is the target, out of which ten have been established.
A. Muthaiah, a small farmer of Kazhanivasal village in Veppur block in Perambalur district and a beneficiary of the scheme, has reared seven batches of chicks with nearly 4,000 chicks in one batch. Chicks delivered to him grow into broiler chicken of 2 kg weight in 38 to 42 days. “I sold chicken for Rs. 52,165 in one batch and got a profit of Rs. 15,000 a batch. Now I am rearing the eighth batch of chicks which are now 19 days old,” he said showing the chicks in his poultry farm on Wednesday.
Anbuselvan of Ogalur is yet another farmer who has benefitted out of the poultry cluster scheme announced by the government.
He is rearing the sixth batch of chicks given to him. He has sold chicken for Rs. 53,171 per batch. Like these two farmers there are many who benefitted out of the scheme. A sum of Rs. 8,25,000 is spent for establishing a poultry unit.
Out of this amount, Rs. 4,12,500 is the subsidy from State and union governments and the beneficiary has to pay a margin of 10 per cent of the project cost.
Indian Overseas Bank and other banks have given loans to farmers for the rest of the amount. Besides these, beneficiaries get back end subsidy from Poultry Venture Capital Fund of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
Darez Ahamed, District Collector, whose motivation brought many farmers to poultry farming, said that many farmers had shown interest in establishing poultry farms.
M. Chandrasekaran, Joint Director, Animal Husbandry, and K. Thangarajan, Deputy Director, said broiler chicken rearing was undertaken in the district through integration wherein, integrators supply day old chicks and feed required for birds.
Shanthi Feeds Ltd, Swami Feeds Ltd, and Suguna Feeds Ltd., are the integrators for Perambalur district. The integrators ensure that the birds are marketed through their own channels.
Beneficiaries are selected by integrators, bankers, and government officials.
