Aizawl: The Mizoram government has approved a Rs 20.63-crore poultry project at Thenzawl in Serchhip district designed to rear at least 1 lakh hens, officials said on Monday, in a push to make the state self-sufficient in egg production.
Production target and wider livestock push
According to the state’s Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department, the proposed facility is expected to produce between 70,000 and 75,000 eggs a day. The announcement was made by Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister C Lalsawivunga while addressing workers of the ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) at the party office in Aizawl.
The Thenzawl project forms one strand of a broader strategy to raise the state’s output of eggs, milk and meat, officials said. Complementary initiatives include feed-manufacturing units, fodder cultivation drives and contract farming schemes for maize and soybean to ensure domestic availability of animal feed.
Insurance, feed and fodder measures to support farmers
Since the launch of a livestock insurance scheme in February, the government has enrolled animals and settled claims, the minister said. A total of 4,724 animals — including pigs, cattle and goats — have been insured, with claims amounting to ₹41.1 lakh already settled.
To bolster feed availability, mixed contract farming of maize and soybean has been introduced in 11 villages across Champhai and Khawzawl districts, with 529 farmers participating. Under the programme, the government distributed 4,428 kg of maize seeds and 2,184 kg of soybean seeds.
Other projects and planned sites
Officials said a Rs 2.11-crore feed-manufacturing project is being implemented at the veterinary farm in Thenzawl. Additional fodder projects include a Rs 62-lakh scheme at Hnahlan in Champhai district, and plans for large-scale fodder cultivation at Hortoki in Kolasib district, located along the Bairabi–Sairang railway corridor near the Assam border.
| Project | Location | Outlay | Expected output / beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poultry farm (1 lakh hens) | Thenzawl, Serchhip | Rs 20.63 crore | 70,000–75,000 eggs/day |
| Feed-manufacturing unit | Veterinary farm, Thenzawl | Rs 2.11 crore | Local feed supply |
| Fodder project | Hnahlan, Champhai | Rs 62 lakh | Fodder production |
Why the push now?
Officials framed the package as a response to both supply-side constraints and losses suffered by livestock keepers. The insurance scheme was introduced in the wake of disease outbreaks, including African swine fever (ASF), which have affected pig populations in recent years. The integrated approach — production, insurance, feed and fodder — is aimed at reducing dependence on imports and stabilising prices for consumers and farmers.
- Scale: The Thenzawl farm’s capacity of 1 lakh hens would mark a significant rise in state-level commercial poultry capacity.
- Feed security: Seed distribution and contract farming aim to secure feed inputs locally.
- Risk mitigation: The livestock insurance scheme has already processed claims totalling ₹41.1 lakh.
Local impact and next steps
The state has not yet provided a timeline for completion of the poultry unit or for the scale-up of commercial egg distribution. Officials said the project will be accompanied by supporting infrastructure for feed production and fodder cultivation to ensure long-term viability. The minister stressed the government’s intent to increase production of eggs, milk and meat to meet domestic demand.
The combined measures — an industrial-scale poultry farm, feed-manufacturing capacity, fodder projects and insurance coverage — are intended to reduce import dependence, provide livelihoods to farmers engaged in contract-farming schemes and improve resilience against animal-disease shocks. The state government will need to outline implementation timetables, procurement and marketing arrangements for eggs, and biosecurity protocols for large-scale poultry rearing as the project moves ahead.
