Turkey, a bird native to North America, will soon be introduced in Bhutan giving meat eaters a choice. At the moment, the only bird meat available in the market is chicken.
A breeding programme is underway at the National Poultry Development Centre (NPDC) in Sarpang. Some 250 turkey birds will be supplied to farmers in Sarpang on a trial basis.
If proven successful, it will be supplied to the farmers in Tsirang.
In the meantime the centre is training farmers in turkey farming. So far about 90 farmers in Sarpang and Tsirang have been trained.
The Programme Director of NPDC, Dr. Karma Wangdi, said taking up turkey farming means less maintenance cost and good returns. “…It is easy to manage and the return from one turkey bird is much more higher compared to the poultry broiler chicken because of lesser feed it consumes.”
From next year, it will be supplied to Dagana, Chhukha and Samtse Dzongkhag.
