Kadaknath chicken farming to start as pilot project in Darjeeling

Kolkata: The West Bengal Swarojgar Corporation Limited (WBSCL) is planning to start a pilot project in Darjeeling for farming of Kadaknath chicken, which is known for its exquisite taste and high nutritional value.

The standing committee of the state Assembly associated with the state Self-Help Group & Self Employment department recently visited Darjeeling and found that around a dozen families have taken up chicken farming of the Kadaknath variety in a successful manner.

"We are presently undertaking a diagnostic study and have identified some areas in Darjeeling where we will be soon starting a pilot project. The district administration will be consulted before starting the new venture," a senior official of WBSCL said.

It may be mentioned that the standing committee, led by its chairperson Sabina Yasmin, who is an MLA from Mothabari in Malda, spoke with the farmers and encouraged them to continue with the farming. The team also assured of intervention to boost the same. According to the official, the Kadaknath chicken will be of great benefit to the health conscious people because of its medicinal values, which include lower cholesterol, higher iron content, and anti-cancer properties. However, the price of the variety will be over Rs 500, which is significantly higher than normal broiler chicken, which hovers around Rs 100-120 per kg.

It may be mentioned that Madhya Pradesh has won Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Kadaknath, an indigenous chicken breed found in the tribal-dominated Jhabua district in the state. The GI registry office at Chennai has dismissed claim of similar recognition of Kadaknath breed by Chhattisgarh. Tribals in South Bastar district Dantewada in Chhattisgarh undertake Kadaknath chicken farming on a large-scale. Kadaknath, called the black chicken, also lays black eggs. The eggs of Kadaknath chicken is priced at around Rs 40 a piece. It may be mentioned that a handful of restaurants in the city have plans to include the Kadaknath variety in their menus. At present there are a handful of farms scattered across the state that deal with supply of Kadaknath variety, but planned intervention from the government can boost the number.