NABARD applauds KVK Fatehgarh Sahib's Women Empowerment and Nutritional Security Project

Ludhiana, February 22, 2024: A team from NABARD, led by Raj Kiran Johri (DGM NABARD Regional Office, Chandigarh), Davinder Kumar (AGM), and Sanjeev Kumar (AGM, Ludhiana Cluster), visited Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Fatehgarh Sahib to review the ongoing project on 'Nutrition Security and Economic Empowerment of Rural Women through Backyard Poultry' in Fatehgarh Sahib District on 21st February. The officials applauded the KVK efforts to facilitate backyard poultry units among villagers.

Dr Manisha Bhatia, Assistant Professor (Home Science), informed the team about the various activities conducted under the project in the past year. She highlighted that training programmes on poultry farming have been conducted in villages Chunni Majra and Boran, and 1500 poultry birds have been distributed to rural women, with 50 backyard poultry units established in these two villages.

Dr Guranshpreet Singh Sethi, Assistant Professor (Animal Science), further informed the team that beneficiaries under the NABARD project have started marketing the eggs and birds for meat, with sales happening in nearby villages. Rural women from Chunni Majra expressed their satisfaction with the project, stating that eggs and meat provide nutritious meals to their families, especially children. They also mentioned economic benefits, such as using income for better education and healthcare.

Raj Kiran Johri motivated the beneficiaries to upscale their units and informed them about the support available from NABARD. He expressed satisfaction over the project's progress. Davinder Kumar suggested forming self-help groups at the village level, while Sanjeev Kumar recommended equipping the beneficiaries with baking skills and meat pickle production.

The team also visited poultry units established in the village of Boran under the project. The beneficiaries of villages Chunni Majra and Boran expressed gratitude to the NABARD team and Krishi Vigyan Kendra for implementing the project in their villages, acknowledging the positive impact on their livelihoods and nutrition security.