Emu Farming - an alternative means of livelihood
Updated: Feb 06, 2014 12:06:00pm
Bhubaneswar, Feb 6 (KNN) The Integrated Tribal Development Agency in Paralakhemundi of Gajapati District in Odisha is offering an alternative means of livelihood to residents of the area, especially the landless, tribal groups and women, through Emu farming.
Emu Farming according to the agency is complementary to agriculture and is one of the most profitable businesses in the near future.
“Emu farming offers great opportunity for foreign investments and export and thereby introduction of this farming shall aid the tribal members to augment their livelihoods,” it said.
As far as the bird is concerned, an Emu is a sober bird that feeds on grass, grains, pulses and chick feed. With a strong immune system and adaptability to a wide range of climatic conditions, it hardly suffers from disease. Significantly, every part of an emu’s body such as oil, meat, eggs, skin claws and feathers are commercially valuable.
To take forward the project of Emu Farming, the Agency has invited bids from agencies to implement Emu farming as an income generating activity by community based organisations and individuals.
The programme is expected to strengthen socio-economic development of particularly the landless, BPL ST Women Tribal Groups and individuals; where in an individual family/group of families will be the target group.
It will also help in the skill upgradation of rural tribal youth and development of this livestock enterprise as a business proposition at village level; and promote adoption of best practices in Animal Resource Development for sustainable livelihood development.
The Projects will be taken up in the 5 Tribal Sub-Plan blocks of ITDA, Paralakhemundi, in Gajapati District of the state of Odisha namely R Udayagiri, Mohana, Gumma, Rayagada and Nuagada by the Women Self Help Groups (WSHG) / by tribal individuals.
Once the site is selection and beneficiaries identified, 25 pairs of emu birds (1:1 ratio for male and female) and other necessary items will be provided to individuals / families. They will also be provided with training in emu rearing for three years. Further, support will be provided in rearing activities with regard to quality input like feed, vaccinations.
Beneficiaries will also be given technical guidance for creation of infrastructure. Buy – back arrangements for marketing of eggs, meat and other products to ensure profitability/marketability/ insurance coverage for each bird and any other ancillary activities required to be undertaken for smooth and successful implementation of project on turnkey basis will be provided.
The Emu bird is from a family of large birds which mainly originated in Australia. Emu farming in India was established during the mid 1990's and has been a growing business ever since then. It is estimated that there are about 2,500 emu farms in India and the number of emu farms is rapidly increasing. This has been mainly due to the fact that emu farming in India is a very lucrative business and a variety of emu products are being sold in the market as well as exported all over the world.
The Tribal families in the district of Gajapati depend on subsistence agriculture. The major contribution to their livelihoods is from Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP) collection, small livestock rearing like goat and backyard poultry. Therefore there is a dependency on nonfarm activities like goatery and poultry for supplementary income.
The tribal communities rear goats, sheep, pigs, poultry birds, cattle etc in a traditional way. Therefore the Government have given the thrust in this aspect of development of animal resources so as to rear genetically improved breeds of these resources etc.
Gajapati District gains a large amount of its revenue through the agricultural sector, its main industries comprising of agro–processing and horticulture industries.
Other than a few agro–processing units there are some activities of cottage industries like Horn work, Jaikhadi bag, Cane and bamboo work, Ganjappa card and Pattachitra mukha, Broom work and Siali leaf plate making and Tibetan Woolen Carpet whch contribute to the economy of the district. (KNN/ES)
Emu Farming according to the agency is complementary to agriculture and is one of the most profitable businesses in the near future.
“Emu farming offers great opportunity for foreign investments and export and thereby introduction of this farming shall aid the tribal members to augment their livelihoods,” it said.
As far as the bird is concerned, an Emu is a sober bird that feeds on grass, grains, pulses and chick feed. With a strong immune system and adaptability to a wide range of climatic conditions, it hardly suffers from disease. Significantly, every part of an emu’s body such as oil, meat, eggs, skin claws and feathers are commercially valuable.
To take forward the project of Emu Farming, the Agency has invited bids from agencies to implement Emu farming as an income generating activity by community based organisations and individuals.
The programme is expected to strengthen socio-economic development of particularly the landless, BPL ST Women Tribal Groups and individuals; where in an individual family/group of families will be the target group.
It will also help in the skill upgradation of rural tribal youth and development of this livestock enterprise as a business proposition at village level; and promote adoption of best practices in Animal Resource Development for sustainable livelihood development.
The Projects will be taken up in the 5 Tribal Sub-Plan blocks of ITDA, Paralakhemundi, in Gajapati District of the state of Odisha namely R Udayagiri, Mohana, Gumma, Rayagada and Nuagada by the Women Self Help Groups (WSHG) / by tribal individuals.
Once the site is selection and beneficiaries identified, 25 pairs of emu birds (1:1 ratio for male and female) and other necessary items will be provided to individuals / families. They will also be provided with training in emu rearing for three years. Further, support will be provided in rearing activities with regard to quality input like feed, vaccinations.
Beneficiaries will also be given technical guidance for creation of infrastructure. Buy – back arrangements for marketing of eggs, meat and other products to ensure profitability/marketability/ insurance coverage for each bird and any other ancillary activities required to be undertaken for smooth and successful implementation of project on turnkey basis will be provided.
The Emu bird is from a family of large birds which mainly originated in Australia. Emu farming in India was established during the mid 1990's and has been a growing business ever since then. It is estimated that there are about 2,500 emu farms in India and the number of emu farms is rapidly increasing. This has been mainly due to the fact that emu farming in India is a very lucrative business and a variety of emu products are being sold in the market as well as exported all over the world.
The Tribal families in the district of Gajapati depend on subsistence agriculture. The major contribution to their livelihoods is from Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP) collection, small livestock rearing like goat and backyard poultry. Therefore there is a dependency on nonfarm activities like goatery and poultry for supplementary income.
The tribal communities rear goats, sheep, pigs, poultry birds, cattle etc in a traditional way. Therefore the Government have given the thrust in this aspect of development of animal resources so as to rear genetically improved breeds of these resources etc.
Gajapati District gains a large amount of its revenue through the agricultural sector, its main industries comprising of agro–processing and horticulture industries.
Other than a few agro–processing units there are some activities of cottage industries like Horn work, Jaikhadi bag, Cane and bamboo work, Ganjappa card and Pattachitra mukha, Broom work and Siali leaf plate making and Tibetan Woolen Carpet whch contribute to the economy of the district. (KNN/ES)
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