On 16 March, Minister for Food and Animal Husbandry, C. Divakaran said in Thiruvananthapuram that the government would extend all help to private poultry units in the drive to make the state self-sufficient in eggs and meat, reports The Hindu.

Delivering the inaugural address at a function organised for the test launch of three value-added products developed by KEPCO, he said efforts were on to reduce Kerala's dependence on neighbouring states for poultry products.

The Minister said the government had embarked on a panchayat-level project to provide hens and poultry feed free of cost to families below the poverty line. He said the new ready-to-cook products were designed as convenience foods. The products are chicken cutlet, chicken sausage and marinated chicken lollipop.

Minister Divakaran released the new products by handing over a packet to Mayor C. Jayan Babu.

Chief Secretary P.K. Mohanty delivered the keynote address. Poultry corporation Chairperson Kamala Sadanandan, Managing Director V. Sunilkumar, State Animal Husbandry Department Director R. Vijayakumar and chairman of the City Corporation's standing committee on Health G.R. Anil were also present at the function.