Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 23 April 2025
In a significant step toward promoting local agricultural innovation and sustainability, the ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI) licensed its breakthrough technology, DweepMAS-Poultry Feed, to local entrepreneur Mr. Ibrahim Manikfen. The Technology License Agreement was formally signed at the Regional Station of ICAR-CIARI in Minicoy.
The DweepMAS-Poultry Feed is a novel, MASMIN-based feed derived from processed (smoked and dried) tuna fish — a resource abundantly available in the Lakshadweep Islands. This innovative formulation serves as a sustainable alternative to conventional soybean meal, which is commonly used in poultry feed.
With a high crude protein content of 70%, superior digestibility, and excellent nutrient availability, the feed has been designed to support various poultry stages. The technology enables the preparation of five distinct feed types: starter, grower, layer, broiler starter, and finisher feed.
According to the developers — Dr. T. Sujatha, Dr. Y. Gladston, Dr. M. Ajina, and Dr. E. B. Chakurkar — the new feed is expected to reduce poultry feed costs by up to 30% in the region. This could play a pivotal role in enhancing the self-sustainability of poultry farming across the Lakshadweep Islands, minimizing reliance on imported feed components and strengthening the local agricultural economy.
The licensing of this technology marks a milestone in leveraging indigenous resources for food security and economic development in India’s island territories.