MARGAO: Poultry farming has a potential to be a roaring business in the state particularly in the coastal areas of Salcette given the fact that a major chunk of star hotels and other tourism related activities are located along this coastal belt.

This view has been generally accepted not only by those dealing in chicken products but also by the Animal Husbandry department, which is presently headed by Dr H Faleiro.
A brief survey conducted revealed that many families in coastal areas such as Majorda, Betalbatim, Benaulim, Colva, Varca, Orlim, Cavelossim etc have been depending on chicken products and related business such as selling broilers and live chicken as well.
It was learnt that while in some cases live chicken is supplied to regular dealers of ‘live chicken sellers’ some of such persons queue up at the poultry farms mostly located in Seraulim-Colva areas to procure live chicken which is transported in the vans.
The director of Animal Husbandry, Dr Faleiro said that steady progress is made in this field by those desiring to venture into poultry farming, and added that his department is ever willing to give subsidies to those who aspire to go in for this business.  He further informed that Dr Savio Sequeira Vaz and Dr V L Bhaje are the two officers who assist the poultry farmers who desire to launch their poultry farming business in giving valuable tips as to how to make the business profitable.
Deputy director of the animal husbandry department, Dr Vaz, said that it is true that poultry farming can be a profitable business, however he said he does not have complete details off hand to provide as to how many farmers from Salcette have been thriving on this business, but said that the response ie encouraging.
Assistant director, Mr V L Bhaje said that there is a website where farmers can get all the information regarding the details on poultry farming. He said around Rs 2 lakh subsidy for the farmers is provided by his department and added that the per bird area should be around one square meter. He disclosed that a farmer from Nuvem, Mr Timitio Piedade and Mr Felix Valaderes are doing very well in this business, adding that there are quite a few other farmers in Salcette who are also doing well.
However, sources in the department as well as the farmers in this activity informed that now a days the business did face some slackening due to reports of bird flu or avian flu.
It was also informed that farmers now find it profitable to procure birds directly from outside the state like Maharashtra and Karnataka and then sell them in the Goan markets.
Sources also disclosed that farmers face difficulty when people complain of foul odour in the vicinity of the poultry farm. It was informed that there are cases wherein the poultry farms existed first and then came the buildings but due to complaints there are litigations which come in the way of this business and in this view remote areas are preferable to start the business.
Further the Animal Husbandry officials disclosed that the government gives a lot of encouragement for these farmers, especially those who are differently abled etc, adding that loans are given by the banks on very attractive terms.
A resident of Benaulim said he has seen that there are quite a number of people from his village who are involved in the business related with chicken products. It was informed by some sources from Colva panchayat that an ex-panch has started this kind of business in the Colva market, which is doing quite well.
A poultry farmer from Per Seraulim, Colva Mr Jose Paul said that he was attracted to poultry farming realising that he has a knack for this trade.
He said that even as a small boy he was pretty successful in studying the birds well and that he was particularly skilful in nursing the birds to live a healthy life. He said that he would spend hours together fascinated by these winged friends, feeding and caressing them, watching their antics and studying their habits and peculiarities and today he said he has finally embraced the poultry farming activity which helps him sustain himself.
Another poultry farmer, Mr Milagres from Sanguem who has set up this business in Margao disclosed that he was attracted to poultry farming, and did not have the funds. He applied for a loan which was sanctioned. His poultry business continues to thrive.