Three indigenous duck varities stage a return to Kuttanad wetlands

After being nearly wiped out by last year’s bird flu outbreak, the wetlands of Kuttanad are buzzing again with three indigenous duck varieties making a spectacular comeback.

Leading this restoration effort is the Duck Hatchery and Training (DHAT) Institute at Manjadi, near Thiruvalla, which is nurturing parent stocks of Vigova, Kuttanadan Chembally and Snow White ducks. Over the last six months, the institute has been supplying around 2,000 one-day-old ducklings every week to farmers across the State. From Neyyattinkara in Thiruvananthapuram to Neeleswaram in Kasaragod, farmers are flocking back to these indigenous breeds, giving them a fresh lease of life.

Saju Simon, assistant director at DHAT, says that these varieties were on the brink of extinction following last year’s bird flu outbreak, which also brought hatching operations to a halt for a long period. “Thanks to carefully maintained parent stocks, we have been able to revive these breeds from near extinction. The Snow White variety, developed at Niranam Duck Farm through selective crossbreeding of local and foreign germplasm, is now maintained exclusively at DHAT,” he said.

Safety protocols

The restoration mission, according to the official, involved a meticulous process of following biosecurity measures and precise breeding. “Being close to the Avian Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, we’ve followed stringent safety protocols to prevent virus exposure. We also identified and sealed all potential gaps, including open spaces where bird droppings could introduce infection, to ensure a foolproof system,” Mr. Simon added.

To safeguard against future outbreaks, DHAT has now embarked on a plan to diversify the parent stocks to multiple locations across the State. “Even if one location is affected by bird flu, the parent stock at other sites will remain safe,” said another official.

Meanwhile, the mass culling last year has left a shortage of the Chara duck, another prized local duck breed. Officials sources say the Chara germplasm is scarcely available in the State and will need to be sourced from elsewhere.

Duck farming, second only to paddy cultivation, continues to be the backbone of village life in Kuttanad. Many households rear a few ducks in their backyards, which provide a steady income, contribute to food security and generate employment for the local community.