Pune: Tarde village in Haveli Taluka, with just 300 families, has transformed into a thriving poultry hub. Thanks to the efforts of 20 dedicated farmers, poultry farming has become a key source of income in the region. The village's geographical location and climatic conditions have further contributed to its success in poultry production.
Previously, 80-90% of the village’s farmers cultivated sugarcane and onions. However, increasing pest attacks, rising costs, and fluctuating yields made traditional farming less profitable. This led Chandrakant Kale to explore poultry farming, which proved to be a viable alternative. Inspired by his success, farmers like Amar Kale, Mangesh Gavte, Subhash Shelar, and Khanderao Chaudhary joined the business.
Starting the poultry business came with financial challenges, but farmers secured funds through agricultural income and bank loans of up to ₹10 lakh. While some farmers specialize in layer poultry farming, the majority are engaged in broiler farming.
Innovation and Cost Management
To reduce expenses, some farmers have invested ₹10 lakh in their own feed mills, which has helped them save 50 paise to ₹1 per kilogram of feed. Other advancements include:
Automated watering systems (nipple systems) ensuring birds receive water efficiently.
Borewells and water quality testing in laboratories to maintain hygiene standards.
Contracts with egg distributors and private companies for steady sales.
Success Stories in Poultry Farming
Damodar Sopanrao Jagtap, a poultry farmer for 30 years, currently raises 15,000 birds and earns ₹4-5 lakh annually.
Chandrakant Damu Kale, in the business for 35 years, successfully operates his poultry farm across five acres.
Despite its success, poultry farming faces occasional losses due to market fluctuations and rumors. To strengthen the industry, farmers have urged the government to:
Provide a 90% subsidy on solar energy to reduce electricity costs.
Exempt poultry farms from property tax.
Nandkumar Chaudhary, Vice President of the Maharashtra State Poultry Association, emphasized the need for policy support to make poultry farming more profitable.