State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku has directed authorities at the Central Poultry Farm in Mirpur, to raise production of day-old chicks (DOCs) of improved breeds, streamline farm management, repair unusable sheds swiftly, and address manpower shortages.

The directive came during a surprise inspection visit to the farm on Saturday.

During the visit, the state minister toured various sheds, the hatchery, the feed mill, and other sections of the farm, and sought updates from officials on chick and egg production, sales, and feed manufacturing activities.

Tuku said projects undertaken for the farm's development must be properly utilised, adding that alongside improving management, production needs to be scaled up further.

He noted that chicks produced at the farm are collected by marginal poultry farmers for rearing and sale, meaning higher output would directly benefit them while also contributing to meeting the country's demand for animal protein.

Addressing instability in the poultry chick market, the state minister said boosting production at the government farm would help ease shortages and price volatility in the market.

He called for intensifying both the production of improved-breed chicks and their supply to marginal farmers.

During the inspection, the state minister found several sheds unfit for use and ordered their immediate repair, along with urgent steps to resolve staff shortages.

He also reviewed staff attendance and punctuality, and assessed the progress and implementation status of various ongoing development projects at the farm.