SRINAGAR, Sep 11: As many as, 415 Poultry Cooperatives involving the membership of more than 8500 individuals have been established in the state to help creation of self employment with the government assistance. This would also give boost to local production of poultry birds. Out of the above number, more than 115 poultry cooperatives have commenced business with 15.10 lakh birds per annum rearing capacity. To facilitate the working of poultry cooperatives NCDC funding has also been arranged. As man as, 56 projects were sent to the NCDC in the first phase out of which nine projects have been sanctioned involving project cost of Rs. 434.40 lakhs. Against the sanctioned projects, an amount of Rs. 246.87 lakhs have been released to the poultry cooperatives upto March 31, 2008. Twenty seven projects have been sanctioned by NCDC in the 2nd phase involving a project cost of Rs. 552.69 lakhs with a rearing capacity of 9.25 lakh birds per annum. The projects on completion will be meeting the local demand of poultry birds in the state.