RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has decided to resume the “layer poultry farming” launched by Shehbaz Sharif when he was the chief minister in 2016 and later continued by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government.

The programme however came to a close in 2022 after Imran Khan’s government was ousted through a vote of no-confidence.

According to the poultry subsidy scheme, a set consisting of five hens and one rooster was being provided to citizens registered under the programme. A subsidy of 30 per cent would be provided to the beneficiaries.

During his visit to the Rawalpindi Poultry Research Institute on Friday, Punjab Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Dairy Development Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani ordered the resumption of providing egg-laying hens to farmers at subsidised rates.

He emphasised the need for increasing the number of egg-laying hens to meet the demand for eggs in the province.

Set of five hens and one rooster to be provided to registered citizens; minister says govt aims to promote poultry industry in province

The minister said: “We are committed to supporting our farmers and promoting the poultry industry in the province. Resuming this programme will help reduce the cost of production for farmers and increase egg production, making eggs more affordable for consumers.”

He also directed the institute to take steps to increase the number of egg-laying hens, improve breeding and introduce nutrition programmes, stressing the need for continued research and development in the poultry sector to ensure sustainable growth and development.

Ashiq Kirmani said farmers’ welfare was the government’s priority and poultry farming was a profitable business. “There are many opportunities for farmers to succeed in this business in view of the increasing demand for ‘desi’ eggs in urban areas,” he added.

The provincial minister said to meet the demand for eggs in the winter season, planning should be done from today itself, adding that farmers should be given modern training in poultry farming and the government would provide all possible support in this regard.

He said in 2022, 91,000 sets of chickens were distributed among farmers by the Rawalpindi Poultry Research Institute and this number should be increased this year.

He further said 450,000 eggs were produced in the Poultry Research Institute last year and 240,000 chicks were born out of them.

The minister also planted a sapling on the premises of the Poultry Research Institute.

He visited a chicken farm and inspected the feed provided to the chickens. He also visited poultry, hatchery and disease labs and inquired about the facilities provided to farmers.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2024