Chicken feet’ farming potential in inland salt affected areas: striking gold for farmers and entrepreneurs.

Abstract

About 6.74 million ha (CSSIR, 2019) land in India is under the adverse impact of salinity and solidity making agriculture unproductive. Large extent of states like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Maharashtra are affected. ICAR-CIFE's R&D has led to productive and profitable use of some of these lands for P vannamei farming. Salicornia species is a salt tolerant (halophytic) plant, known as "chicken feet", has enormous potential as a candidate crop for cultivation in inland salt affected areas. It has significant domestic as well as export demand in European countries due to their nutritional and medicinal importance. High seed oil concentration makes it as a cost-effective biofuel. This paper proposes farming of chicken feet crop, preferably on a contract basis, on the bunds of shrimp farms as well as in salt affected lands. It offers a golden opportunity and a win-win scenario for both farmers and entrepreneurs. As an eco-friendly technology, it can be an effective counter to second-generation environmental externalities arising from expansion of shrimp farming in inland salt-affected areas. Following a value-chain approach would be the best strategy for promotion of chicken feet farming in not only coastal areas but also the inland saltaffected areas in states.