Frozen Value-Added Products have been launched in the market through Kudumbashree’s Kerala Chicken Project, which has gained wide acceptance among consumers. Shri. M. B Rajesh, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Excise Department and Parliamentary Affairs Department, Government of Kerala launched the products by handing over the products to Ms. P Sathi Devi, Chairperson, Kerala State Commission for Women, Government of Kerala during the function held at Nava Kairali Hall, Secretariat Annex, Thiruvananthapuram on 10 December 2024. Products such as Chicken Drumsticks, Boneless Breast, Chicken Biryani Cut, Chicken Curry Cut and Full Chicken have been launched in the market under the brand ‘Kudumbashree Kerala Chicken’. In the initial phase, the products will be available in Thrissur, Ernakulam, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts.
The broiler chicken raised in the farms of Kudumbashree NHG members under the leadership of Kudumbashree Kerala Chicken Broiler Farmers Company will be transported to the plant of Meat Products of India operating in Koothatukulam, Ernakulam district, where they will be processed and packed. All the products will be available in quantities of 450 gram, 900 gram. By scanning the QR code included in the envelope, consumers can also understand which farm the chicken was raised in. In addition to the current marketing channels, it is planned to sell frozen chicken products in vehicles in each district under the name 'Meat on Wheels' in the future. This is expected to find a market for Kudumbashree Kerala chicken products in urban and rural areas.
The production and marketing of chicken value-added products is being initiated as part of the very extensive activities envisaged in the second phase of the project. In addition to producing at least half of what is required for the domestic market, the main goal of this phase is to increase the income of farmers.
Kerala Chicken is a project launched in the state in 2019 with the aim of providing clean chicken meat to the consumer at a reasonable price. Currently, 431 broiler farms and 139 outlets are operating as part of the project in 11 districts. It is hoped that more women will get employment opportunities as the manufacturing and marketing of value-added products intensify.
Ms. P Sathi Devi, Chairperson, Kerala State Commission for Women, Government of Kerala, Ms. T.V. Anupama IAS, Special Secretary, Local Self-Government Department, Government of Kerala, Shri. H. Dineshan, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Governing Body Members, Kudumbashree Programme Officers and others also attended the programme.
