chicken farming business plan Current status, problems and prospects

The best feature of local chickens is that they can nest. They have the ability to incubate their own eggs and raise chicks. Due to the nature of local chickens, since ancient times, people did not need hatcheries and incubators when raising chickens. Nor was there a need for brooders to raise chicks. In addition, these chickens are less susceptible to diseases. Their digestive capacity is much higher than that of broiler and layer chickens.

They can be raised by feeding them locally available organic food without giving them expensive and synthetic compounded feed like broiler and layer chickens. Naturally, the meat and eggs of chickens raised in this way are healthier than those of broiler and layer chickens.

Currently, due to the inability to properly manage biosecurity in broiler and layer chickens, the mortality rate of chickens is increasing, and many farmers are becoming indifferent to this profession. Since local chickens can be raised even with average management, it is natural for some farmers to be attracted to local chicken farming instead of broiler or layer chickens. Here, an attempt has been made to clarify the advantages and disadvantages of local chicken farming, like broiler and layer, the technology required for a chicken farming business plan, its economic analysis, and various other dimensions.

Today, people all over the world are falling victim to various types of non-communicable diseases in greater numbers than in the past due to adulteration and non-food items in food. Even when it comes to poultry products, farmers use antibiotics indiscriminately and indiscriminately, resulting in residues in meat and eggs. In order not to harm human health, the amount of such substances should be less than the prescribed amount.

According to the results of various studies, the amount of antibiotics, hormones and other synthetic substances in meat and eggs has been found to be much higher than what should be the case. No matter how many material comforts a person acquires, if his health is not in good condition, he will be deprived of enjoying those comforts to the fullest. Therefore, no one should be foolish enough to play around with something as important as health.

The meat and eggs produced from local poultry farming are organic in nature. Some farmers involved in this profession have also told the author that they get more satisfaction from raising local poultry as they can contribute to their own health as well as the health of the community.

However, what we should not forget is that for countries with proper biosecurity, proper management, controlled use of antibiotics and other chemicals, and regular market monitoring and controlled housing (a well-organised poultry house where temperature, light, etc., can be controlled), there is always a possibility of getting more production from broiler and layer farming than local chickens.

The reason for this is that the productivity of local chickens is lower than that of broiler and layer chickens. However, due to the irregular electricity supply in our country, the high price of one-day-old chicks, consumer demand, weak biosecurity system, and the indiscriminate use of antibiotics and other chemicals, local chicken farming seems to remain a reliable commercial option in our country for a long time.

Sources of employment and income generation in rural areas

Even today, at least 50 % of the total poultry population in our country is rural chicken. The poultry industry contributes about 2.8% to the total agricultural economy of Nepal and 6 to 8% to the total livestock economy. This industry provides employment to about one hundred thousand people across the country. This data basically includes commercial broiler and layer chickens that have been recorded. If the data of small numbers of chickens kept in rural households is also included in this, local chickens are certain to occupy a large part of it.

According to the statistics of the Ministry of Agricultural Development, the current consumption of poultry meat in Nepal is about two kilograms per capita per year. The consumption of eggs is found to be 25 eggs per capita per year. Despite the widespread damage caused to the poultry industry from time to time due to bird flu and Ranikhet disease, the practice of raising local chickens in Nepal has not disappeared.

Local chickens tend to be in the informal sector. They are often not included in the statistics of poultry entrepreneurs. Apart from local chicken, the annual turnover of poultry products in the country is worth Rs 60 billion. It is estimated that the fixed capital investment in this sector alone is at least Rs 20 billion. The demand for local chicken meat and eggs is very encouraging in the domestic market.

Since this chicken meat is considered white meat, its consumption is increasing among patients with high blood pressure and diabetes. Since it is also the first choice of tourists, the demand for chicken meat is also increasing day by day. Thus, many people seem to be getting used to rural chicken meat. Even in restaurant menus, the price of local chicken meat dishes is higher than that of broiler chicken.

Special features of the Chicken farming business plan

• In the poultry farming business, large businessmen and suppliers have more control and access to the market than small farmers. The interests of small farmers are not being properly addressed. However, since it is different in nature from broilers and layers, it has its own market.

• Local chickens can also be raised commercially like other chickens, and earn a lot of profit.

• Starting this business does not require great technical skills, expertise, or large investments. Investment and business can be expanded gradually every year. For detailed investment information, see the local poultry farming projects on this website.

• Since chickens grow faster than goats and buffaloes, it can also be considered a business that gives more returns in a shorter time.

• Some people in society always prefer white meat. Due to this, if organic meat and eggs are produced, the market for chickens will never decrease.

• In this business, you do not have to walk in the rain or hot sun like in other livestock farming businesses. A single person can keep and care for a large number of chickens, which is why it can be considered an easier profession compared to other livestock farming.

Some common problems encountered in poultry farming

• Despite the high demand, formal markets for large quantities of products like broilers and layers are not organised in most places except in big cities.

• Due to the failure to properly manage biosecurity, infectious diseases like Ranikhet and bird Flu cause huge losses from time to time.

• Due to the lack of a network or coordination of farmers, the poultry farming system cannot be developed by balancing market demand and supply, and sometimes the chickens cannot be sold on time.

• Many farmers do not want to raise chicks from local hens. They want to buy day-old chicks. Due to this, except for a few government and private hatcheries, all types of rural chicken chicks are not available easily and at subsidised rates in all districts. Therefore, it can be said that the availability of chicks is still not universal.

• Unlike broilers or layers, raising chicks is not that difficult. However, due to irregular electricity supply and excessive load shedding during the winter, it is difficult to raise chicks for the first week or ten days.

• Lack of a market information system.

• Lack of workers. The tendency to consider working on a farm as a shepherd or as a source of prestige is still prevalent.

• Lack of an easy and affordable supply of raw materials required for making feed locally.

However, the above-mentioned problems of poultry farming can be solved to a large extent. If investment is made in this business, employment will be created in the country and in the future, there is a possibility of earning a lot of income through commercial local poultry farming by replacing the money sent abroad for meat. It can be understood that the future of commercial local poultry farming is bright due to the consumer group becoming more health-conscious.

Poultry Farming and Organic Fertilisers

In addition to meat and eggs, poultry farming also provides quality organic manure. This manure can be used to grow organic vegetables or other organic products. In addition to the three main nutrients required by crops, namely nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, it also contains important nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, sulfur, boron, copper, manganese, zinc, and chlorine. Generally, different types of poultry produce manure containing the following amounts of the three main nutrients, based on dry matter.