Geographical distribution of Vanaraja chicken variety and its impact on poultry sector in India

Abstract

Vanaraja, a dual-purpose backyard chicken variety developed by ICAR-Directorate of Poultry Research, Hyderabad has been propagated in different agroclimatic regions of India for the past 3 decades. Recorded data of 1992-2020 from the institute hatchery records and annual reports of the Directorate was used in the study. Propagation of Vanaraja was three dimensional; from the Directorate (ICAR-DPR), Hyderabad (14.3%), Poultry Seed Project (PSP) centres (9.14%) and other organisations (76.56%). During the period of study, higher proportion of birds were distributed in southern (30.31%) followed by eastern (27.6%), central (18.59%) and western (10.1%) regions of India. Out of 4.14 lakh stakeholders reared the Vanaraja bird, majority of them benefited from other organisations (92.2%) followed by PSP centres (4.1%) and ICAR-DPR (3.7%). During the 15th livestock census, the estimated share of Vanaraja variety was 0.0007%, that reached to 0.228% of total Indian chicken population in 20th livestock census and on indices points it reached to 89240 whereas country chicken population indices of the country reached to 244 points compared to 15th livestock census. Economic contribution of Vanaraja variety was estimated Rs 0.02 billion in Eighth plan and that reached to Rs 3.64 billion in Eleventh plan. During 2017-2020, it is estimated Rs 2.28 billion and average annual contribution of Vanaraja variety was estimated Rs. 0.76 billion (i.e, Rs 76 Crore) in the period. A comprehensive policy is required to further propagation of Vanaraja variety which has very high potential to grow in all regions of the country and contributing in nutritional security, income and employment generation.