Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh are fighting over a breed of chicken!

The breed is locally known as Kalimasi. Photo courtesy YouTube.

While you were happily devouring the leg piece of chicken, two states have locked horns over a breed of chicken known as Kadaknath.

That's right.

The two neighbouring states of Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh have filed applications with the Geographical Indication registry office in Chennai to obtain the 'GI tag' for this black winged chicken variety. A geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign used on certain products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin (e.g. a town, region, or country).

It is locally known as Kalimasi or the fowl with black flesh. The breed is considered a premium breed and its meat is priced three times more than that of broiler chicken.

'Kadaknath' is known for its high iron content and much lower cholesterol than other breeds, and sells at a much higher price than other varieties, say experts.

What does MP have to say in the matter?

According to Madhya Pradesh animal husbandry department's additional deputy director Dr Bhagwan Manghnani the state is likely to get the GI nativity tag for the tan-blooded bird, which

has its origin in the state's Jhabua district.The Gramin Vikas Trust of Jhabua applied for the GI tag in 2012 on behalf of the tribal families involved in breeding it. The government-run hatcheries in Madhya Pradesh produce about 2.5 lakh chickens of the Kadaknath variety annually.

What does Chattisgarh say?

As part of the public-private partnership model, Global Business Incubator Pvt Ltd (GBIPL), Chhattisgarh had been roped in by the Dantewada administration to  help generate livelihood fotr the tribals of the area. And as part of this, GBIPL has been helping tribals rear the chickens in  a natural environment in Dantewada. The state government-supported self help groups of tribal women, running over 160 poultry farms in Dantewada, are engaged in the production of about 4 lakh chickens of the variety for meat annually.

The birds are currently sold  for Rs2,000 to Rs 2,500 a piece and you will have to shell out Rs 50 per egg. The chicken's black meat is priced between Rs 700- Rs 1,000 per kilogram.

Whose bird is it?

If one goes by place by origin, the chicken is a native of Jhabua, Madhya Prdesh. But ever since in 2013 it was introduced in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh's' production rates are higher.

The battle lines have been drawn-let's wait for the outcome now.