Lakshadweep Islands at a Glance
The Union Territory of Lakshadweep is an archipelago
consisting of 11 inhabited and 16 uninhabited coral islands, 12 atolls, three
reefs, and five submerged banks. It is a Uni- district Union Territory with an area
of 32 sq.km. They lie about 220 to 440 kms from Kerela coast between 8 degree
12 degree 13-degree North latitude and 71 and 74 degree East longitude.
According
to the 2001 Census, Lakshadweep has a population of 60595 persons, out of which
31118 are males. Because of the economic and social backwardness and remoteness
of these islands from mainland, the entire indigenous population is classified
as Schedule Tribe. The main occupation
of the people is fishing and Coconut Cultivation. Poultry enterprise is an
emerging industry.
During late 1960 the
people of Lakshadweep were unaware of the Animal Husbandry activities for the
economic development of people. The Administration had introduced
poultry keeping in the island of Agatti by transporting a few layers from
mainland during 1961. Subsequently in 1963 poultry keeping was extended to
Kavaratti and Amini, later to Androth, Kalpeni and Minicoy also. Gradually the
people of Lakshadweep started getting acquainted with poultry keeping.
The Animal Husbandry programmes in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep
consist mainly of integrated poultry development, Goat/ Cattle Development and
Disease Control Programmes.
The livestock and poultry production in these islands were meager till seventies. The people in the islands were maintaining indigenous variety of cattle, goat and poultry for their domestic purposes. Till 1992 this Department was manned by the senior officers of the administration due to the absence of a regular Director for the Department. The department of Animal Husbandry has made the inhabitants conscious of better variety of livestock and poultry by establishing Poultry Demonstration Units and Dairy Demonstration Units in some of the islands through Five Year plan till Eight Five year plan. From VIIIth Five Year plan onwards the schemes has been envisaged to boost up production of high yielding livestock and poultry from various farm oriented programmes to farmer oriented ones, have proved good results with regard to the production of milk, egg and meat. As a result of launching the latest technology and related packages on intensified poultry development, a large number of beneficiaries are comes forward to take up the schemes in poultry sector.