The Project Directorate on Poultry, a poultry research institute under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) located in Rajendranagar is catering to the needs of the poultry farmers and poultry industry of the country. The Directorate was established in the Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University campus on March 1, 1988 and its primary activities are to coordinate the ICAR sponsored network projects and also to develop suitable chicken varieties for free range/backyard farming and intensive poultry farming.
With a vision to enhance productivity of chicken for household nutritional security, income and employment generation, the institute also develops and propagates improved varieties of chicken for sustainable production under intensive and semi intensive systems of farming.
The directorate emphasis on improvement of the chicken germplasm through genetics and breeding for bringing about different varieties to suit to different agro climatic and farming conditions. The directorate also evolves different feeding regimens and health plans for the improved germplasm. The directorate has produced several crosses and varieties like Vanaraja, GramaPriya, Krishilayer and KrishiBro which are quite popular throughout the country. The Vanaraja and Gramapriya are highly accepted by the rural households for backyard poultry over the desi chicken because of high productivity, adaptability and increased incomes.