Ranchi, May 23: The poultry sector in the state is all set to get a shot in the arm with a Punjab-based company willing to invest Rs 1,500 crores in the sector.

The efforts of the Union food processing ministry and Punjab-based Alchemist Limited, an internationally-acclaimed company engaged in poultry farming, will see the setting up of as many as 3,000 poultry units in different districts of the state.

The units will percolate down to the village panchayats, proving an alternate source of employment for the rural unemployed.

In a workshop organised by the food processing ministry, chairman-cum-managing director, Alchemist Limited, K.D. Singh informed people will initially have to invest Rs 1,000 per month and provide 40-50 decimal land for setting up each poultry. This initial investment would give returns of almost Rs 5,000, Singh claimed.

“The company will provide all assistance and will also help in procuring the chicks, eggs and their feed. The company will then also give an option of buying back the raised chickens and eggs if the same is not sold out in the open market,” Singh added.

Union food processing minister Subodh Kant Sahay reiterated the efforts of the government in its bid to eradicate unemployment from the state’s hinterland.

Addressing the workshop, the minister said: “Around 1,50,000 people will be benefitted directly through this programme. Soon along with poultry, dairy and goat farming will be introduced, which will be carried out on the lines of business.”

Representatives of almost 250 panchayats of Ranchi district were present at the workshop. A documentary film on poultry farming was also screened.