AICRP on Poultry had a modest beginning during the IV five-year plan period. Indian Council of Agricultural Research sanctioned two coordinated projects entitled “All India Coordinated Research Project on Poultry for Egg” and All India Coordinated Research Project on Poultry for Meat” to evolve suitable strains of egg and meat type chicken that combine well for production of commercial layer and broiler crosses. Both these projects were merged into a single project known as “All India Coordinated Research Project on Poultry Breeding” during the V plan period with no change in objectives. The ‘Rural Poultry’ component of the project was initiated with one centre at Agartala in 2001. Subsequently, it was expanded to six centres during XI plan with the sole objective of development of location specific rural varieties. This was elevated to the status of a Project Directorate during the VII plan period. Besides AICRP on Poultry Breeding, Project Directorate also encompassed two more coordinated projects i.e. AICRP on Poultry Nutrition and AICRP on Poultry Housing and Management, which were subsequently phased out during 1992-93.

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