Establishment of Broiler Farms

The Department of Animal Husbandry, Government of Uttarakhand, runs the "Establishment of Broiler Farms" scheme. It aims to strengthen the state's rural economy by promoting commercial broiler rearing.

The scheme is open to individuals, with priority given to women and Self-Help Groups (SHGs). It provides financial assistance to reduce the upfront costs of setting up a poultry farm, with the objective of encouraging entrepreneurship and creating lasting income opportunities.

Support is extended as direct subsidies for poultry rearing and for the infrastructure required. The scheme is intended to improve beneficiaries' livelihoods, support local food security and generate employment in the agricultural sector.

Through this assistance, the scheme seeks to improve the commercial viability of broiler farming and to help marginalised communities in Uttarakhand move towards economic independence.

- **Identification and initial application**: Applicants who are interested should get in touch with the Veterinary Officer or Livestock Extension Officer in their area. It falls to these officers to identify beneficiaries who qualify within their jurisdiction and to hand out the initial application forms. - **Document submission**: The application form has to be filled in correctly and sent in together with the necessary supporting documents. These usually consist of a copy of the Aadhaar card as proof of identity, bank account particulars (passbook or statement) so that the subsidy can be disbursed, and land records (ownership documents or lease agreements) establishing that suitable land is available for the farm. - **Project report preparation**: The Veterinary Officer assigned to the case helps the applicant put together a detailed project report. This report sets out the feasibility and the financial projections for the broiler farm being proposed. - **Bank submission**: The livestock owner must then submit the prepared project report to a bank. This step matters because it opens the possibility of obtaining financing over and above the scheme's subsidy, given that the unit cost exceeds the subsidy paid directly. - **Forwarding to Chief Veterinary Officer**: The local Veterinary Officers pass on all applications received, together with the project reports, to the office of the Chief Veterinary Officer at the district level so that processing can continue. - **Verification and selection**: A District Executive Committee is given the task of carrying out a detailed verification of every application and its supporting documents. The committee assesses whether applicants are eligible and whether the broiler farms they propose are viable. - **Beneficiary selection and subsidy disbursement**: Once verification is completed successfully, the District Executive Committee finalises which beneficiaries are selected. After selection, the approved subsidy amounts are paid straight into the beneficiaries' KYC-certified bank accounts.

Applications for the Establishment of Broiler Farms scheme undergo a multi-stage assessment at the local level, intended to direct assistance only to beneficiaries who genuinely qualify and are committed to the project. Once local Veterinary Officers have identified applicants and the necessary forms and documents have been submitted, the Veterinary Officer draws up a detailed project report for each one. The application forms and these reports are then sent on to the office of the Chief Veterinary Officer.

The District Executive Committee carries out the central assessment. It verifies all information supplied, including Aadhaar details, bank records and documents establishing land ownership or lease, and examines whether the proposed broiler farm is feasible and what impact it may have. A stated preference exists for women and Self-Help Groups (SHGs). This committee holds the final authority on selecting beneficiaries, following which the subsidy is disbursed.