A co-operative based in Madhya Pradesh has confirmed that it has sent 2,000 chicks of the famous protein-rich ‘Kadaknath’ breed to a farm at Ranchi in Jharkhand following an order placed by former India captain MS Dhoni.
The black Kadaknath chicken meat from the Jhabua district of MP got the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2018 after a legal battle with Chhattisgarh. The tag denotes that the product comes from a particular geographical area, and often enhances its commercial value.
This chicken, its eggs, and its meat are sold at a higher rate than the other breeds.
Jhabua Collector Somesh Mishra told PTI that 2,000 ‘Kadaknath’ chicks ordered by Dhoni from a local cooperative were on Friday sent in a vehicle to Ranchi, the cricketer’s hometown.
“It is a welcome step that a popular personality like Dhoni has shown interest in the Kadaknath chicken variety. Anyone can order these hatchlings through the online mode, which will benefit tribal people (breeding this chicken) in the district,” Mishra said.
Jhabua’s Krishi Vigyan Kendra chief Dr. I S Tomar said Dhoni had placed the order sometime back, but the chicks could not be supplied at that time due to the outbreak of bird flu.
All 2,000 Kadaknath chicks sent to Ranchi are vaccinated, said Vinod Meda with whom MS Dhoni had placed the order and the consignment is to be delivered at a facility that is being readied for rearing chicks at the cricketer’s farmhouse. He runs the cooperative organization associated with the production of Kadaknath in the Rundipada village of Jhabua.
According to Tomar, a one-day-old Kadaknath hatchling costs nearly Rs 75, while 15-day and 28-day-old chicks cost Rs 90 and Rs 120, respectively.
(PTI inputs)
