The Lohardaga Gramin Poultry Co-operative Society Limited at Kuru block's Doro Toli – which used to run the state's biggest hatchery with a capacity of producing 300,000 chickens every month – has finally overcome the loss caused by the sudden downfall in the market. This was following the outbreak of bird flu twice in 2008.

As many as 569 women involved in 42 self-help groups are involved in the co-operative, reports Times of India. For most of the people here, the poultry revolution was the turning point of their lives but the market downfall had then forced them to sell chickens at three rupees (INR) a kilo, which made the hatchery incur a loss of around INR4.9 million.

But the women did not give up hope and continued working hard which once again yielded results.

"The co-operative society, which incurred a loss of INR48 to 49 million has recovered with a minimum balance of INR700,000 in its account," said Falguni Ganguli, the executive project officer of Pradan, the NGO which has been playing vital role towards women empowerment at Kuru and providing techno-managerial support to the co-operative society.

He said the society had been sanctioned a loan of INR9.6 million, including 15 per cent subsidy for working capital by Integrated Co-operative Development Programme of National Co-operative Development Corporation.

"We hope to return this loan and have a strong working capital with extra income to share among the society members in coming three years. Despite having a capacity of 300,000 chick production, our present production is about 120,000 chicks per month due to shortage of quality eggs which is brought from Vishakhapattanam. We have decided to manage eggs from some other reliable companies from the same place and fulfil our demand to make our production to at least 240,000 chicks per month by the ongoing month," said Chhotelal Oraon, the marketing manager of the co-operative.

Deputy commissioner Ratan Kumar, who recently visited the hatchery, has assured help to support the women on their mission poultry revolution for their economic independence. The district administration has sanctioned money to set up an automatic feed plant on the hatchery premises which will help provide quality poultry feed to the all the 569 farms of the women members of the Society which is to be joined by additional 200 members soon.

According to Times of India, Some 160 women had first constituted the Lohardaga Grameen Poultry Co-operative Society Limited in 2002 that later got Lohardaga administration's support which provided it economical aid under Rashtriya Sum Vikas Yojana (RSVY).

The hatchery supplies 60 per cent of its chick production to co-operative societies in Torpa, Potka, Senha, Gumla, Petrvar, Hajaribag, Dumka and Godda and rest is given to the local society members who all run their own chicken farms near their homes and sell the grown chicken in a joined marketing policy. Only 10 per cent of their chicken is sold in the local market as 90 per cent chicken are supplied mostly to Ranchi as well as West Bengal and Chhattisgarh.