About Us

Welcome to the Web Page of the PDP

I have a great pleasure in inviting you to the website of PDP - one of the leading research institutions in India in the field of Poultry Science. This presentation would provide an in-depth and current description of the ongoing research and developmental activities of this Directorate.

I do hope this web presentation would facilitate collaborative initiatives and scientific interactions. Please feel free to contact us, should you need any further information.

The Genesis

All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Poultry Breeding was initiated by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) during IV Plan (1970) period. The objective of the project was to produce superior genetic stocks of layers and broilers to achieve self-reliance in poultry production. The project was operated with a coordinating unit located at Poultry Research Division, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, U.P. till the year 1979 and subsequently at Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar till the year 1988. Under this project a network of research centers was located at different State Agricultural Universities and ICAR institutes. The Coordination unit, comprising a small group of scientists from different disciplines with a full time Project Co-ordinator, co-ordinated the work of the different centers and carried out research programmes.

Keeping in view the importance and magnitude of work involved, the Co-ordination unit of AICRP was subsequently upgraded to the status of a Directorate during the last part of VII plan period and named as Project Directorate on Poultry (PDP). The Directorate was established at its present location in Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University campus, Hyderabad on 1st March, 1988. Since then, besides functioning as the co-ordination unit of AICRP on Poultry Breeding, the Directorate has been the focal point for research on Poultry, particularly in the area of genetics and breeding. It carries out applied and technology generating research on chicken involving breeding, duly supported by nutrition and health cover with the emphasis on developing high yielding germplasm for rural and tribal farming. It has been acting as repository for two random-bred control populations (one each for layer and broiler type of chicken). Besides these responsibilities, the Directorate also maintains a germplasm center to make available the improved strains and stocks to the user agencies.

The research programmes carried out under AICRP made significant progress in developing high yielding layer and broiler strains since its inception. Besides, the Directorate has evolved synthetic strains viz. Vanaraja and Gramapriya for free range back yard farming in rural and tribal areas and Krishibro for small scale intensive broiler farming. Keeping in view the growing demands and the challenges that the Directorate has to face in future, perspective plan for 25 years has been prepared with a visionary approach. Currently, three thrust areas have been identified as the major programmes to meet the perspective demands of the Directorate.

Vision

· To enhance productivity of chicken for household nutritional security, income and employment generation

Mission

· To develop and propagate improved varieties of chicken for sustainable production under intensive and extensive systems

Our Mandate

· To Co-ordinate and monitor ICAR sponsored research programmes

· To undertake applied research on genetics and breeding of poultry and conservation of improved poultry germplasm with supportive research on poultry nutrition, disease control and management, pertaining to the gene pool maintained and monitored by the PD on Poultry. Special attention to be given to meet the needs of the rural/tribal areas and other under privileged sections.

Organizational Structure

The Directorate is headed by a Project Director and is guided and supported in its endeavour by the Management Committee and Research Advisory Committee. There are a total of 10 network centers under the AICRP on Poultry Breeding, located across the country in SAU's and ICAR institutes. The close functional relationship and the co-operative effort is explained in a flow diagram.