Name : Shri R. Raja
Age : 37
Village : Muccapahad, South Andaman
Phone : 9531802075
Broiler Framing with 30,000 to 40,000 birds per month
Name : Shri R. Raja
Age : 37
Village : Muccapahad, South Andaman
Phone : 9531802075
Broiler Framing with 30,000 to 40,000 birds per month
Shri R. Raja, 37 years old B.A. graduate is the resident of Muccpahad , South Andaman. Between 2002 and 2010, he participated in various training programmesinclusive of poultry farming conducted by KVK of CIARI, South Andaman. In 2005, he joined Railway Protection Special Force as Constable, but resigned in 2007 due to family circumstances. Till 2010, he used to collect coconuts and arecanuts in and around his village for merchants on commission basis.
With the earlier knowledge gained during the training programme on poultry farming he wished to start small unit of poultry to stand on its own. . In 2010, he started a poultry farm in an abandoned shed at his backyard with 500 Vanaraja birds under the technical guidance of KVK, South Andaman and sold to inter-Island ship caterers. After getting the confidence, he wanted to upscale poultry farming in business mode. In 2012, based on the project proposal prepared by the KVK, South Andaman under the guidance of Scientists of CIARI in line with the Micro business module of CIARI he availed a loan of Rs.8.00 lakh from State Bank of India, Garacharma branch and started broiler farming with a sales capacity of 1,000 birds per month. It was a successful venture , thereafter , he expanded his farm to the present sales capacity of 30,000 to 40,000 birds per month by availing loan from different banks.
Initially, he used to purchase chicks from M/s. Shivani Poultry, Dollygunj @ Rs.15/- and then from Farms at Chennai. Till 2016, he struggled to penetrate the market which was dominated by a single firm.In 2019, he started M/s. Amman Hatchery with two Incubators of 15,000 egg capacity each by availing a loan of Rs.40.00 lakh from Andaman & Nicobar State Cooperative Bank, Port Blair. This move helped him to reduce the expenditure on buying chicks; and to stabilize the production and marketing. Now, he is purchasing eggs from a firm at Bengaluru.With the moral support of his brother, he overcame the market threats.He appreciated the fact that, more than being a source of livelihood; this venture has given him social recognition. He inspires the villagers in overcoming their own challenges. He acknowledges the services of ICAR- CIARI for imparting training, guiding in availing loans and providing technical guidance all through his entrepreneurship development. He perceives huge scope for entrepreneurship in these Islands, and guides at least 5 youth every month on poultry farming. For his achievements, he was honoured by ICAR during the XI National KVK Conference on “Empowering Youth for Technology Led Farming” held at NASC Complex, New Delhi from 28th February to 1st March, 2020. Shri R. Raja’s story exemplifies the importance of Institutional support and credit in entrepreneurship development of aspiring youth in the Islands.
He managed to establish a network with 38 shops in Port Blair to hold a market share of 20%. He has employed 15 staff for various operations and making a turnover of Rs.52 lakh to Rs.70 lakh per month from the sale of 30,000 to 40,000 birds at the wholesale rate of Rs.175/-.
Soaring price of feed comprising soyabean and maize, which have to be purchased from mainland is a major constraint faced by him as it shares around 65% of production cost.Even as he aims to start his own parent stock production in the long run to stop his dependence on others for eggs, his short term goal is to increase his market share from 20% to 25% by establishing another incubator of 15,000 egg capacity.
Contributors : S.K.ZamirAhmed , Jaya kumaravaradan , & D. Karunakaran