Umesh Singh 
When countrymen are facing real tough time amid countering the Covid pandemic, there is some good news for food.lovers especially non-vegetarian. Now the locally available rare variety of chicken identifies and popularly known as ‘Kadak Nath’ is set to find prominent place in the menu course of hotels, restaurants, street food joints etc here. Earlier it used to be the specialty of Jhabua district in MP owing to its origin. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (agriculture science centre) under Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Agriculture University in Gwalior has developed technique (breeding and hatching) under poultry scheme for production of Kadak Nath recently. Its produces including chicken meat (Kadak Nath), eggs etc is available in the market through poultry farmers and also from centre situated on the Race-course road. Besides Gwalior three other KVC centre including Dhar, Khandwa and Jhabua are also engaged in production of Kadak Nath. According to estimates it (Kadak Nath) helps not only improve immunity but also contain less fats and more protein up to 25/27 percent. It is useful for patients suffering from diabetes and cardio-vascular disease. It contain vitamin B1, B2, B6 and B12. besides protein content 25 to 27 %, fat 0.73 to 1.3 %, cholesterol 184.75 milligram etc.
Agriculture scientists Dr Raj Singh Kushwah said this chicken variety originally found in tribal dominated districts Alirajpur/ Jhabua was on the verge of extinction in year 2011. However an extensive drive to save/conserve and its reproduction programme launched in year 2012-13 is paying dividends now. Initially 100 chicks were imported to Gwalior centre in year 2016-17. The incubation period is about 18 days while chicks to develop into fully grown adult consume roughly 40 days period. We administer two doses of vaccine periodically besides chop off their pecks during maturity period, told Kushwah.
He maintained the public response has been good and encouraging considering the covid lockdown and the period recorded manifold increase in sale of produces. We have setup franchisee centre in nearby villages and farmers are benefiting from it. Nahar Singh of Girwai village is earning good sum of money from sale of Kadak Nath chicken (poultry hatching) in addition to horticulture farming activity from small farm land holding. The supply of chicken (Kadak Nath) from Gwalior is made to far flung places like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi etc. The female chicken cost Rs 500/ and male Rs 600/. Everything from its outer physical appearance to inner parts including blood, bone and flesh is black colored. Hence this black beauty with its nutritional value is set to find special mention in the menu course of popular eatable joints besides satisfying tasty dish to foody obsessed people.
(Photo-Umesh Singh)
