Steps will be taken to establish a ‘Poultry Park’ as part of expanding the poultry sector in the state, Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister K P Mohanan said on Thursday.
Mohanan was addressing ‘Vision Poultry 2014,’ a seminar organised here by the Kerala State Poultry Development Corporation (KEPCO) in the run-up to the National Poultry Expo planned in Kochi later this month.
By linking poultry farming to other crops, the government will be able to provide the sector with subsidies and other benefits, the Minister said. The Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) will also start training programmes in poultry farming at Kudappanakunnu, where KEPCO has its headquarters, and at Thiruvizhamkunnu, the Minister said.
The National Poultry Expo will be held at the Marine Drive, Kochi, from February 26 to March 3 in a bid to acquaint farmers with the new trends in the sector and to attract new players. The event will feature stalls on poultry as well as ornamental birds and animals and a food festival.
KEPCO Chairman K Padmakumar presided over the seminar. KVASU Vice-Chancellor B Ashok, Animal Husbandry Director Dr N N Sasi and KEPCO managing director Dr K N Noushad Ali spoke. Indian Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals director Dr K Udayavarman was moderator at the seminar.