Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 13 November 2025
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (AH&VS) is intensifying its efforts to scale up the production and distribution of Vanraja chicks across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to promote backyard poultry farming and strengthen rural livelihoods.
A fresh consignment of 5,000 Vanraja hatching eggs has been received from the Project Directorate on Poultry (PDP), ICAR–Hyderabad. The eggs will be supplied to departmental hatcheries, including the Central Hatchery at Dollygunj, for incubation. The chicks hatched from this batch will later be distributed to farmers across the Islands.
So far, the department has procured 26,190 hatching eggs against a target of 60,000 from PDP–ICAR Hyderabad. The remaining lots are expected to arrive in phases to ensure a steady supply for continuous chick production and distribution.
The Vanraja bird — a hardy dual-purpose breed known for its adaptability to local conditions, rapid growth, and good egg production — has proven ideal for backyard poultry rearing in the Islands. Its promotion is expected to enhance household income, improve nutritional security, and contribute to sustainable rural development.
