A new chicken variety “TOKBARI” has been released on 2nd May, 2024 in the Annual Review Meeting of All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Poultry Breeding and Poultry Seed Project (PSP), organized at ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre, Medziphema, Nagaland. Dr. Raghavendra Bhatta, Hon'ble Deputy Director General (Animal Science), ICAR, Govt. of India, released the newly developed backyard poultry “TOKBARI” developed by AICRP on Poultry breeding Centre for NEH region Tripura Centre, Lembucherra, West Tripura. Dr. Bhatta also praised the AICRP on Poultry Breeding Tripura centre, Lembucherra for developing the new chicken variety. He stressed on further increasing the backyard poultry’s contribution to the total poultry production.
        'Tokbari' is a dual type, multi-coloured hybrid chicken variety developed by crossing of Coloured Broiler, native Tripura Black and Dahlem Red for rural poultry production under AICRP on Poultry Breeding. Genetic inheritance of newly developed Tokbari chicken is Coloured Broiler (25%), local Tripura Black (25%) and Dahlem Red (50%). This variety has attractive multi-coloured feather pattern with moderate body weight, good escaping ability and scavenging habits. Due to long shank and strong body conformation it can move faster in free range for scavenging and also protect themselves from predators. The annual egg production is 150-170 and 130-150 at institute farm and at the farmer’s fields respectively. Annual egg production of Tokbari bird is 133% higher and egg weight is 26% higher than the local native chicken at farmer’s fields. It Possess good immunity and can thrive well on low plane of nutrition. Tokbari is well adapted and suitable for rural poultry production system in agro-climatic conditions of NEH Region of India.
        Dr. G.K. Gaur, ADG (AP&B), ICAR accentuated on the need of conserving the indigenous chicken breeds and large scale dissemination of superior backyard poultry. Dr. R.N. Chatterjee, Director, ICAR-Directorate of Poultry Research, Hyderabad apprised about the genesis of the Project and its salient achievements made during the last 50 years. Dr. Girish Patil, Director, ICAR-NRC Mithun praised the ICAR-DPR, Hyderabad and AICRP on Poultry Breeding for its significant contribution to the livelihoods of NEH Region. Earlier, Dr. H. Kalita, Head of the Regional Centre, ICAR Nagaland Centre welcomed the delegates present in the event. The Centre In-charges of 12 AICRP on Poultry Breeding and 12 Poultry Seed Project Centres covering different states of the country and the scientists from ICAR RC for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre and NRC-Mithun, participated in the event. Poultry chicks of newly developed chicken variety “Tokbari” have been also distributed to farmers of Nagaland on this occasion. The meeting ended with vote of thanks from Dr. U. Rajkumar, Head, PGB Division, ICAR-DPR, Hyderabad.