Encouraging More Farmers to Adopt Scientific Practices
Mr. Sabahat Ulla Khan, a gemologist from Arambol, Pernem in North Goa, turned his passion for farming into a successful business venture. He established AL Khan Goat & Poultry Farm in Arambol village, aiming to create a sustainable livelihood through poultry farming. However, Mr. Khan faced several challenges, including high mortality rates among his poultry, low productivity, and a lack of knowledge about proper poultry management techniques.
Seeking Expertise from ICAR-CCARI, Goa
In search of solutions, Mr. Khan approached the ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-CCARI) in Goa. He visited the institute’s poultry unit to gain first-hand information about scientific poultry farm management. Recognizing the high demand for eggs and meat in his region, he decided to scale up his backyard poultry farming operations.
Training and Knowledge Acquisition
Initially, Mr. Khan followed traditional scavenging methods for rearing poultry, which led to issues like worm infestations, disease outbreaks, and increased mortality rates. To overcome these challenges, he attended a six-day training program on scientific poultry rearing at ICAR-CCARI, Goa. This training, conducted in collaboration with KVK North Goa in 2022, covered essential topics such as scientific poultry management, quality chick production, economic feeding practices, breeder flock management, and disease prevention.
During the training, Mr. Khan also acquired improved poultry germplasms like Srinidhi, Gramapriya, and Vanaraja from the institute’s poultry unit. These varieties are known for their higher productivity and resilience. He focused on hatchery management techniques, procuring fertile hen and quail eggs from the institute’s hatchery unit, and producing healthy chicks in his own hatchery.
Impact of Scientific Interventions
With the support of ICAR-CCARI, Mr. Khan achieved remarkable improvements in his poultry farming operations. The early chick mortality rate on his farm dropped dramatically from 25% to 5%, thanks to better management practices and disease prevention measures. His specialized feeding regimen also led to increased body weight in the birds, enhancing their market value.
Diversification and Business Expansion
Mr. Khan diversified his poultry farming to include Japanese quails, ducks, turkeys, and guinea fowl, which became his primary livelihood. He launched a hatchery business, successfully hatching and selling chicks, quails, and ducklings with a high hatchability rate. His quail-hatching operation has been particularly successful, with over 50,000 quail chicks sold to date. This expansion boosted his farm income by approximately 30%, thanks to the additional revenue from the hatchery. Additionally, dressing and retailing poultry meat contributed an extra 15% to his income compared to wholesaling live birds.
Recognition and Future Plans
Recognized within the Goan farming community for his healthy chicks and competitive pricing, Mr. Khan has achieved a significant annual net income of Rs. 2,50,000 from egg and bird sales. His success has not only improved his financial standing but also inspired him to plan further expansion of his farm and business.
Promoting Sustainable Poultry Farming in Goa
Mr. Khan’s journey from a gemologist to a successful poultry farmer highlights the potential of diversified poultry farming and hatchery management as viable business ventures. His experience underscores the importance of scientific interventions, training, and knowledge-sharing in overcoming challenges and achieving success in the agriculture sector.
As Mr. Khan continues to expand his operations, his story serves as an inspiration for other farmers in Goa and beyond. By adopting scientific practices and diversifying their farming activities, more farmers can improve their productivity, reduce losses, and secure a sustainable livelihood. The support of institutions like ICAR-CCARI is crucial in helping farmers navigate the complexities of modern agriculture and achieve long-term success.
Stay tuned with us on our WhatsApp channel for more real time updates on various agriculture related schemes and innovative cultivation methods aimed at supporting our hardworking farmers.
For more detailed information, visit https://khetigaadi.com/ regularly!
