Khurda: A 34-year-old farmer from Arikama village of Bolgarh block in Khurda district has set an example for many by reaping success in quail farming.
Prafulla Mahapatra of Arikama is now supplying quails and eggs to several places of Odisha including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Nayagarh, sources said.
“I came to know about quail farming from social media. I started quail farming with 700 chicks and an investment of Rs 2.50 lakh. Initially, I could not get much success as people were unaware of quail as a source of meat and egg,” Mahapatra said.
According to Mahapatra, a quail can grow up to 250 grams in weight and a female bird can lay around 200-250 eggs in a year. Each quail egg weighs around 8-14 grams, he said.
“Now, a quail is selling at around Rs 50 for meat purpose while people are paying Rs 30 for a dozen eggs. Quail meat has many beneficial effects while its eggs are rich in protein, iron and vitamins,” Mahapatra added.
The 34-year-old farmer is now imparting training on quail farming to others. “Many youths are now showing their interest to opt for quail farming as a source of livelihood. The demand for quail meat and egg is gaining popularity. One can get good returns by introducing modern technology in quail farming,” Mahapatra said.
PNN