Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Certificate in Poultry Farming (CPF) is a short-term vocational programme offered by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) under its School of Agriculture (SOA). The programme is designed to impart practical knowledge and technical skills in poultry breeding, housing, feeding, health care, and farm management. It is a 6-month certificate course (extendable up to 2 years) offered entirely through Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode, with a total of 16 credits. The programme fee is Rs. 3,800 for the full duration, making it one of the most affordable vocational certifications in the agriculture sector. With a seat intake open to all eligible candidates and no upper age limit, the CPF programme is popular among rural youth, women, farmers, and aspiring entrepreneurs looking to enter the poultry industry.

Admissions to the CPF programme are conducted twice a year - in January and July sessions. The January 2026 admission window has been open, with the last date for fresh admission extended to 31 March 2026. The July 2026 session is expected to open around May-June 2026, with tentative last date around 31 July 2026, based on previous year patterns. No entrance exam is required; admission is purely merit/eligibility based.

Distance Mode Study Centres:

The CPF programme is offered exclusively in ODL (Distance) mode. Study centres are spread across multiple IGNOU Regional Centres in India. Key regional centres and select study centres include:

Hyderabad Region: Govt. ITI centres across Telangana (Utnoor, Bhadrachalam, Karimnagar, Khammam, Nalgonda, etc.) and Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) centres
Shimla Region: Govt. ITI centres across Himachal Pradesh (Baijnath, Chamba, Dharamshala, Hamirpur, Mandi, Shimla, Solan, etc.)
Bangalore Region: JSS centres (Bengaluru, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Mysuru, Tumkur) and PMKK centres
Bhopal Region: Govt. ITI centres across Madhya Pradesh (Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Indore, Ujjain, etc.)
Pune Region: Govt. ITI centres (Beed, Jalna, Sangli, Aurangabad) and JSS centres
Jaipur Region: Govt. ITI centres across Rajasthan (Ajmer, Alwar, Bhilwara, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Sikar, etc.)
Lucknow, Varanasi, Noida Regions: JSS centres across Uttar Pradesh
Bhubaneshwar Region: Govt. ITI centres across Odisha and JSS centres
Delhi Regions: Govt. ITI centres (Pusa, Arab Ki Sarai, Hai Nagar) and JSS centres
Other Regions: Ranchi, Raipur, Jorhat, Agartala, Trivandrum, Cochin, Vijayawada, Vishakhapatnam, Patna, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Gangtok, Imphal, Shillong, Aizwal, Kohima, Nagpur, Angul, Madurai, Chennai, Koraput, Darbhanga, Mumbai, Rajkot, Bijapur, Deoghar, Jodhpur, and more

For the complete and updated list of study centres, visit: https://ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in/

Key Points

No entrance exam required; admission is based on eligibility (8th pass)
Available in four mediums: English, Hindi, Mizo, and Telugu
Flexible duration: minimum 6 months, maximum 2 years to complete
Evaluation: Assignments (30%) + Term-End Examination (70%); minimum 40% required in both
Study material is included in the programme fee and can also be downloaded from the IGNOU website
Practical training (Poultry Farm Training) is a mandatory component of the curriculum
Programme follows NEP 2020 guidelines with Multiple Entry and Exit options
Recognised nationally as IGNOU is a Central University established by an Act of Parliament

70 Views Last Year

7 Studentsshown interest in the last 30 days

Official Link:

Go To Website

Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

IGNOU CPF Fees

The CPF programme at IGNOU is highly affordable, with a one-time programme fee of Rs. 3,800 covering the entire 6-month duration. An additional registration fee of Rs. 300 is payable at the time of admission. Study materials are included in the programme fee. There are no hostel facilities associated with this distance learning programme.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Programme/Tuition Fee	3,800
Registration Fee	300
Total Fees	4,100

Registration fee of Rs. 300 is non-refundable under any circumstances
If admission is cancelled before the last date of admission: 100% refund of programme fee (registration fee not refunded)
If admission is cancelled within 15 days after closing of admission session: Rs. 500 deducted from programme fee
If admission is cancelled within 30 days after closing of admission session: Rs. 1,000 deducted from programme fee
If admission is cancelled after 30 days from last date: No refund
Re-registration fee is applicable if the student extends beyond the minimum 6-month duration (check IGNOU website for current rates)
Fee concessions may be available for SC/ST students; check the IGNOU website for current details

IGNOU CPF Admission 2026

Admissions to the IGNOU CPF programme are conducted in two annual cycles - January and July. The January 2026 session admission is currently ongoing (extended to 31 March 2026). No entrance examination is required; candidates are admitted based on eligibility criteria alone. The July 2026 session is expected to open around May-June 2026 based on previous year patterns.

CPF Admission Dates 2026

Event	January 2026 Session	July 2026 Session (Tentative)
Admission Portal Opens	December 2025	May 2026
Last Date for Fresh Admission	31 March 2026	31 July 2026
Last Date for Re-registration	30 March 2026	July 2026
Batch Commencement	January 2026	July 2026
Term-End Exam (TEE)	June 2026	December 2026
Assignment Submission Deadline	Before TEE (check IGNOU website)	Before TEE (check IGNOU website)

Relevant Exam Dates

Event
No external entrance exam is required or accepted for admission to the CPF programme. Admission is direct based on eligibility.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Minimum educational qualification: 8th standard (Class 8) pass from any recognised board
No upper age limit; candidates of any age above the minimum qualification are eligible
No prior knowledge or experience in poultry farming is required

Admission Process:

Visit the IGNOU admission portal: https://ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in/
Register and create a new account on the portal
Select the CPF programme and fill in the online application form
Upload required documents: 8th pass certificate, passport-size photograph, signature, and ID proof (Aadhaar/PAN/Voter ID); caste certificate if applicable
Pay the programme fee (Rs. 3,800) and registration fee (Rs. 300) online
Submit the completed application form
Receive admission confirmation via email/SMS
Select a study centre from the available list at the time of admission

IGNOU CPF Scholarships 2026

IGNOU offers limited fee support and concessions for certain categories of students. While there is no dedicated scholarship programme exclusively for the CPF course, students from reserved categories and economically weaker sections may benefit from government scholarship schemes. The programme's low fee structure itself makes it accessible to a wide range of learners.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Concession	Eligibility	Amount / Benefit	How to Apply
SC/ST Fee Concession	SC/ST category students	Fee concession as per IGNOU norms (check official website)	Apply through IGNOU admission portal with caste certificate
National Scholarship Portal (NSP) Schemes	Students from EWS, OBC, SC/ST backgrounds	Varies by scheme (central/state government scholarships)	Apply at scholarships.gov.in
State Government Scholarships	Varies by state of domicile	Varies by state	Apply through respective state scholarship portals

Students must check the IGNOU official website (www.ignou.ac.in) for the latest information on fee concessions and scholarship eligibility
Scholarship applications typically need to be submitted within the academic year; check deadlines on the National Scholarship Portal
The registration fee of Rs. 300 is non-refundable and not covered under any scholarship/concession scheme

IGNOU CPF FAQs

Ques. I have only passed Class 8. Am I really eligible for the IGNOU CPF programme?

Ans. Yes, the minimum eligibility for the CPF programme is 8th standard (Class 8) pass from any recognised board. There is no upper age limit, and no prior experience in poultry farming is required. This makes it one of the most accessible vocational programmes at IGNOU.

Ques. I enrolled in the January 2026 session but cannot complete the course in 6 months. What should I do?

Ans. The CPF programme allows a maximum duration of 2 years to complete. If you cannot finish within the minimum 6-month period, you can re-register for subsequent semesters by paying the applicable re-registration fee. Check the IGNOU website for current re-registration fee details and deadlines.

Ques. Is the IGNOU CPF certificate valid for government jobs or bank loans for starting a poultry farm?

Ans. The IGNOU CPF certificate is nationally recognised as IGNOU is a Central University established by an Act of Parliament. While it may not directly qualify you for specific government posts, it is a valid vocational qualification that can support applications for government schemes like NABARD poultry loans, PMEGP, or state animal husbandry department programmes.

Ques. Are there any practical classes or do I have to visit a study centre?

Ans. Yes, the CPF programme includes a practical component - Poultry Farm Training (OLPL-002, 2 credits). Students are required to complete practical training at their designated study centre or an affiliated poultry farm. Travel and accommodation costs for practical sessions are not covered in the programme fee.

Ques. Can I get study materials in my regional language?

Ans. Yes, the CPF programme is available in four mediums: English, Hindi, Mizo, and Telugu. You can select your preferred medium at the time of admission. Study materials are provided in the chosen medium and are also available for download on the IGNOU website.

Ques. What happens if I miss the assignment submission deadline?

Ans. Assignments are mandatory and contribute 30% to your final grade. If you miss the submission deadline, you will not be eligible to appear in the Term-End Examination (TEE) for that course. IGNOU typically announces assignment submission deadlines on its website; it is advisable to submit well before the deadline to avoid any issues.