AHMEDABAD: After taking roots in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, the breeding of emus - a bird native to Australia - is now catching on fast in Gujarat. As many as 40 emu farms have sprung up across Mehsana, Surat, Palanpur, Vadodara and Kheda in the last couple of years, industry sources said.
However, a production-linked-market is still lacking. "In the last six months, enquiry regarding the interest- subsidy scheme for emu farming has gained some momentum in Gujarat," said Nabard assistant general manager P Balachandran.
The bird's meat and oil (extracted from its fat) is in demand in many parts of the country, but emu farming is more popular in southern states. "The market has virtually got saturated in the southern states, so people are venturing into emu farming in new states like Gujarat," another Nabard official said.
"Emu farming is an emerging industry in Gujarat. A pair of chicks fetches anything between Rs 8,000 to 15,000 depending upon the size, while older ones sell for anything between Rs 20,000 to 40,000," said Sumesh Singh, the owner of an emu farm at Samartha in Anand district.
"The bird is used mainly for two purposes - oil and meat. Crude oil derived from it is refined to extract Omega 6, 9 and 3 variants, which finds applications in the cosmetic and soap industry, medicine and food items," he said.
"Initially farmers from Maharashtra used to enter into contracts with the farm owners in Gujarat for supply of emu eggs, but now people here have set up their own hatcheries and have begun trading in chicks," said Vishal Patel, an emu farm owner from Palanpur. "The emu eggs are sold for Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 a piece," Patel said.
With a view to diversify poultry industry, the Centre has launched Poultry Venture Capital Fund. "As part of this scheme, 50 per cent of the loan availed from banks is interest-free, once emu-farming project is approved by Nabard," an official said. But a study conducted by Nabard in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh shows that a ready market for emu-related products is yet to be established, and exports are not so good.
"In the absence of established market, banks are cautious in sanctioning loans for emu farming, so no project has been sanctioned in Gujarat so far, as a part of the interest-subsidy scheme," he said. According to industry estimates, because of demand for emu meat from the states like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar and Punjab, nearly 6-7 lakh birds are required annually. The consumption of emu meat is pegged at close to 3 lakh kg across the country.
However, a production-linked-market is still lacking. "In the last six months, enquiry regarding the interest- subsidy scheme for emu farming has gained some momentum in Gujarat," said Nabard assistant general manager P Balachandran.
The bird's meat and oil (extracted from its fat) is in demand in many parts of the country, but emu farming is more popular in southern states. "The market has virtually got saturated in the southern states, so people are venturing into emu farming in new states like Gujarat," another Nabard official said.
"Emu farming is an emerging industry in Gujarat. A pair of chicks fetches anything between Rs 8,000 to 15,000 depending upon the size, while older ones sell for anything between Rs 20,000 to 40,000," said Sumesh Singh, the owner of an emu farm at Samartha in Anand district.
"The bird is used mainly for two purposes - oil and meat. Crude oil derived from it is refined to extract Omega 6, 9 and 3 variants, which finds applications in the cosmetic and soap industry, medicine and food items," he said.
"Initially farmers from Maharashtra used to enter into contracts with the farm owners in Gujarat for supply of emu eggs, but now people here have set up their own hatcheries and have begun trading in chicks," said Vishal Patel, an emu farm owner from Palanpur. "The emu eggs are sold for Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 a piece," Patel said.
With a view to diversify poultry industry, the Centre has launched Poultry Venture Capital Fund. "As part of this scheme, 50 per cent of the loan availed from banks is interest-free, once emu-farming project is approved by Nabard," an official said. But a study conducted by Nabard in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh shows that a ready market for emu-related products is yet to be established, and exports are not so good.
"In the absence of established market, banks are cautious in sanctioning loans for emu farming, so no project has been sanctioned in Gujarat so far, as a part of the interest-subsidy scheme," he said. According to industry estimates, because of demand for emu meat from the states like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar and Punjab, nearly 6-7 lakh birds are required annually. The consumption of emu meat is pegged at close to 3 lakh kg across the country.
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