The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) plays an important role in promoting agriculture and rural development in India. One of its important focus areas is the poultry sector, which provides employment opportunities, improves nutrition, and increases income for rural households. NABARD supports poultry farming through various financial assistance programs, subsidies, and credit-linked schemes for farmers, entrepreneurs, and self-help groups.
Importance of Poultry Farming:
Poultry farming is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the livestock industry. It requires relatively low investment and provides quick returns. Poultry products such as eggs and chicken meat are important sources of protein and contribute significantly to food security.
Recognizing these benefits, NABARD supports poultry farming by facilitating bank loans, capacity building, and infrastructure development.
NABARD Support for Poultry Farming:
NABARD does not usually provide direct loans to farmers. Instead, it supports poultry development by refinancing loans given by banks and by promoting government schemes related to poultry farming. The main types of support include:
1. Credit Support
NABARD provides refinance to commercial banks, regional rural banks, and cooperative banks that lend money to poultry farmers. This helps farmers obtain loans at reasonable interest rates for establishing poultry units.
2. Subsidy Schemes
Under certain government schemes supported by NABARD, farmers can receive subsidies for setting up poultry farms. These subsidies reduce the financial burden on farmers and encourage more people to adopt poultry farming as a livelihood.
3. Infrastructure Development
NABARD supports the development of poultry infrastructure such as hatcheries, feed mills, processing units, and cold storage facilities. This improves the overall efficiency of the poultry industry.
4. Support for Small Farmers and SHGs
NABARD encourages Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and small farmers to start backyard poultry farming. These small-scale units require minimal investment and help rural families earn additional income.
Types of Poultry Units Supported
NABARD schemes support different types of poultry farming projects, such as:
- Broiler farming units
- Layer farming units for egg production
- Backyard poultry farming
- Hatcheries
- Poultry feed manufacturing units
These projects can vary in size depending on the farmer’s financial capacity and available infrastructure.
Benefits of NABARD Poultry Schemes
- The poultry related schemes supported by NABARD offer several benefits:
- Increased income for rural farmers
- Employment generation in rural areas
- Improved availability of protein-rich food
- Development of allied industries such as feed production and processing
- Strengthening of rural economy
Conclusion
The poultry sector has great potential to improve rural livelihoods in India. Through financial support, infrastructure development, and promotion of credit-linked schemes, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development plays a vital role in encouraging poultry farming across the country. Farmers, entrepreneurs, and rural youth can benefit greatly from these schemes by adopting modern poultry farming practices and utilizing available financial assistance.
