India took a groundbreaking step towards advancing animal welfare and sustainable farming by inaugurating its first modern environmentally controlled cage-free poultry training facility in Trichy, Tamil Nadu.
This center was developed through a collaboration between People for Animals Public Policy Foundation, Global Food Partners, Happy Hens Farms, and the Cage-Free Free-Range Poultry Producers Association (CFFRPPA). It also received support from the Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Mission.
The facility will serve as a central hub for training, research, and innovation in cage-free and free-range poultry production across India.
Training of Trainers
Following the inauguration, a three-day Training of Trainers program brought together experts and individuals from across India.
Sessions covered cage-free housing systems, bird welfare, market integration, and farm management best practices. Trainers included specialists from Global Food Partners, Dutch Poultry Institute, Humane Farm Animal Care, and Big Dutchman.
Participants included government officials from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Gujarat, representatives from the Central Poultry Development Organization (CPDO), veterinarians from the Central Avian Research Institute, and independent entrepreneurs.
Discussions explored rising demand for cage-free and free-range eggs and evolving welfare standards at home and abroad.
The facility will continue to host regular workshops, incubation programs for startups, and farmer training sessions. This will position the center a launchpad for cage-free poultry production and rural livelihood development.
Partner statements
Priyanka Bangari of People for Animals Public Policy Foundation:
“This center marks a significant milestone in our journey to mainstream humane and sustainable poultry farming practices in India.”
Parizad Baria, Producer Engagement Lead at Global Food Partners:
“At Global Food Partners, our mission is to create a sustainable, high-welfare cage-free ecosystem, both in India and across Asia. We are excited to collaborate with our partners in the facility to provide technical expertise and training to egg farmers and other key poultry stakeholders in India.”
Ashok Kannan, President of CFFRPPA:
“This facility marks a significant step toward scaling humane, cage-free poultry farming in India. Through workshops, startup incubation, and Training of Trainers, we’re building a skilled and ethical backbone for the industry. Our goal is to support rural livelihoods while ensuring standardization, innovation, certification and compliance. The next milestone is securing banking support — and CFFRPPA is already advancing efforts in that direction.”
Manjunath Marappan, CEO of Happy Hens Farms:
“Being a pioneer in humane poultry space, we are thrilled to have successfully built India’s first modern cage free commercial layer house. Our vision is to grow the sustainable and humane poultry sector in India to meet global standards. We are happy to have partnered with Mathavan D our farmer to make this a successful start for an exciting journey ahead.”