After being nearly wiped out by an outbreak of bird flu last year, Kuttanad’s wetlands have been abuzz with three native varieties of ducks making a spectacular comeback.
Spearheading this recovery effort is the Institute of Duck Hatchery and Training (DHAT) at Manjadi near Thiruvalla, which looks after the parent farms of Vigova, Kuttanadan Chembally and Snow White ducks. For the past six months, the institute has been supplying around 2,000 day-old ducklings to farmers across the state every week. From Neyyattinkara in Thiruvananthapuram to Neeleswaram in Kasaragod, farmers are flocking back to these indigenous breeds and giving them a new lease of life.
Saju Simon, Assistant Director, DHAT, says these varieties were on the verge of extinction after last year’s bird flu epidemic, which also halted hatching for a long time. “Through carefully maintained parent populations, we have been able to revive these breeds from near extinction. The Snow White variety, developed at Niranam Duck Farm through selective crossing of local and foreign germplasm, is now exclusively maintained at DHAT,” he said.
Security protocols
According to the official, the restoration mission involved a careful process of following biosecurity measures and precision breeding. “We have followed strict safety protocols near the Avian Disease Diagnostic Laboratory to prevent exposure to the virus. We have also identified and sealed all potential gaps, including open areas where bird droppings could introduce infection, to ensure a reliable system,” Mr Simon added.
To guard against future outbreaks, the DHAT has now embarked on a plan to diversify the mother populations to multiple locations across the state. “Even if one location is affected by bird flu, the parent population at other locations will remain safe,” another official said.
Meanwhile, last year’s mass culling has caused a shortage of the Chara duck, another prized local duck breed. Official sources say that Char germplasm is hardly available in the state and it will have to be procured from elsewhere.
Duck farming continues to be the backbone of village life in Kuttanad, which comes next to paddy cultivation. Many households keep several ducks in their backyards, providing a steady income, contributing to food security and creating jobs for the local community.
Published – 20 Dec 2025 19:42 IST
