Monday, April 26, 2010

Current Status of Emu Farming in Tamil Nadu

In Tamil Nadu, Emu Farming is scattered around North-Western parts and in and around Madurai. There are other farms smaller in size, across Tamil Nadu. You can find atleast 20 big farms are in Tamil Nadu, which comprises of more than 70% of the Emu Population of the state.

The Main purpose of these farms are selling Chicks to Locals and selling bulk to Andhra Pradesh and beyond. There is no real end use for this Emus at present, except few (big) farmers already tried out selling Meat to the local market and processing Fat in their backyard and selling them as Emu Oil to local stores. Meats end up as Briyani and most of them do like it well, whereas Oil brought more bad name than profit. Because Oil was not processed properly and lost their medicinal values during the preparation, hence, it didn't perform as expected.

There is a emu research unit in Pudukkottai. Its called Emu Research Centre, sponsored by Animal Husbandary Department of Tamil Nadu. This Centre has a Emu Incubator and 10 pairs of Adult Emu birds. They are conducting Training for farmers regularly and they have released a book in Tamil on Emu Farming, as well. This research centre is trying its best to educate farmers, but in general, the mood of the department is unsure of the market for Emu. They worried too much if they would misdirect people, since they have already burned their fingers in Rabbit Farming.

Since selling Chicks was the main focus of these big farms, the market has really moved away to farther places like Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Chandigarh, MP, etc. The cost of transportation is getting higher, hence, net realization for the chicks goes lower for Tamil Nadu Farmers. So, there is a tight situation now, as the farmers are having excess chicks in their hand. The is not an isolated case, but most of the farmers faces this problem now.

It leads to formation of central association in Tamil Nadu, called, Tamil Nadu Emu Farmers Association (TANEFA). The Association has just formed to find ways to keep, sustain and grow the Emu Farming industry in Tamil Nadu. We need to wait and see whether this association really helps small emu farmers to sell their birds at a reasonable profit or will this association help only to the big farmers? Let's see.

I observed a emu business model, which is outstanding and successful. There are few farms already doing this very successfully. I will explain this in the next post.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Emu Farming - Honeypot - Part 2

Let's look into the 10 points mentioned in the previous post:

1. Emu's can lay 50 eggs per year.

Actually, to my knowledge, one in 100 pairs might be laying 50 eggs per year, or bird pair who has successfully laid for atleast 6 years, might reach this number provided they have adequate nutrition throughout their rearing. Average number is 20 eggs per pair.

2. Each Egg costs a minimum of Rs.1,500/-

Yes, it was. Last season, it was sold until Rs.1,000/-. Some desperate farmers sold their eggs at Rs.800/- too. There was a reason behind this for the trend. Emu Hatchery Owners who expected that there won't much sales as well as price for the Emu chicks this season, hence, they reduced the number of eggs in the hatchery. Hence, many hatchery owners stopped procuring. Therefore, the cost of eggs went down. This may not be true for future. The same egg was once sold for Rs.2,000/- also. However, please note that the production cost itself would be around Rs.600-700/- per egg.

3. The Farmer who sold the chick/bird will buy back the eggs, hence no Marketing issues.

This turns out to be an initial promise, and rarely some are still adhering to this promise. Mostly, they just ignore this. Selling eggs is a difficult part, if you don't have a proper understanding & commitment from the farmer whom you have procured the bird.

4. The feed cost is around Rs.3,000/- per year for a bird. Farmer who sold the birds will provide regularly the "specially & custom-made" feed to you.

Feed cost is not fixed at all, of course, it depends on the agricultural produce, which are highly weather-dependent. For a small farmer, who owns a 10-pair farm, cannot prepare his own feed, unless he does it full-time and has other agricultural activities. If he decides to prepare the feed himself, (feed formula is available), the feed cost would be around Rs.12/- per Kg. The additional efforts which he put to make this feed is not costed into. Alternatively, you can buy it from Feed Manufacturers like SKM, at a cost of Rs.17.50/- Kg. Just imagine, you will save 5.50/Kg. If you have 10 pairs, your per day savings will be Rs.55/- a day. Per month, it would be around Rs.1,650/-. So, if you are the owner and you are going to prepare this feed for your 10 pair farm, it is wiser. If you are going to engage someone for the same farm & feed, it is not wiser. Clear...??? When your farm is enlarged enough, you can engage your own men to do that. The owner supplying the feed is most of the times ends up in trouble. Some, unable to match the varying cost of feed, failed to add some important additives, or changing to a cheaper alternative. The feed quality is affected. But, if you are buying from a Branded manufacturer, you can ensure this.

5. No diseases;

Diseases do affect them. Worming & Ranichet are the common disease; which are easily curable if treated on time and with appropriate guidance. Stress & Laceration wounds are other common issues in Emus. Be prepared for them.

6. No Climate issues;

This is true. However, during mating season, it needs some warmer temperature inside the covered space. Otherwise, it can live anywhere (I haven't seen any picture they are roaming in ice lands).

7. Just a fencing at a cost of Rs.15,000/- will do;

Proper fencing for each pair would cost more than that. But, if you are going to let them in the same place, it would cost the same.

8. virtually NO MAINTENANCE at all.


If you don't look at them on a daily basis, you might lose some of the indications, which would tell you about the oncoming problems/diseases. Moreover, they need regular water and feed on a daily basis. Feed them twice a day, and keep filling the water pot, as and when they finishes them.


9. As per the financial projections, you will make a minimum of Rs.50,000/- per year per pair. If you have 10 pairs, you make Rs.5,00,000/-, which is more than a IT professional earns in a year.


I am not going to comment on this. My only advice is that do not take it as your full-time sole job, since this is a seasonal business. Rest of the season, virtually you don't have anything to do.

10. All kinds of guidance, regular farm visits will be provided by the farmer.

Unless you are signed up for Contract Farming, you will get first one or two "pampering" visits. That's it.

I look for your comments, if you have any.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Emu Farming - the honeybot

Emu Farming has been a magic word for the past few years.

Most of the Geography students might have seen the outline pictures in the books about these birds, which are mainly found in Australia. Emu is the national bird of Australia, like what Peacock to our Country.

But, Emu farming was identified and developed as a business by US Farmers. In US, there were very high hope of this business in the earlier times, later, it has been dwindled.

In India, it has been claimed that 'Flightless birds of India' farm is the first one to bring this to India, through Chennai Airport. However, many others were also claiming they are the first one. This is looking like, one of the Cloth Shop in Trichy, claims they are the biggest Cloth shop in the entire country. who knows!!??

What's the sweetspot in this business, which initially attracted me? I will explain each of these facts, how far they are true in reality, later.

1. Emu's can lay 50 eggs per year.

2. Each Egg costs a minimum of Rs.1,500/-

3. The Farmer who sold the chick/bird will buy back the eggs, hence no Marketing issues.

4. The feed cost is around Rs.3,000/- per year for a bird. Farmer who sold the birds will provide regularly the "specially & custom-made" feed to you.

5. No diseases;

6. No Climate issues;

7. Just a fencing at a cost of Rs.15,000/- will do;

8. virtually NO MAINTENANCE at all.

9. As per the financial projections, you will make a minimum of Rs.50,000/- per year per pair. If you have 10 pairs, you make Rs.5,00,000/-, which is more than a IT professional earns in a year.

10. All kinds of guidance, regular farm visits will be provided by the farmer.

But, in reality, every point they have mentioned or spread through word-of-mouth turns out to be either understated or overhyped. But, you will realize only after you have committed, except few lucky-ones who have already researched enough of these facts before burning their fingers. Let me explain those each facts in my next blog.

PS: Thanks to Anil, who has posted me about www.emufarmer.com, which is hyderabad based EMU Farmer association. Good to know that there are some organized activities are going on in this industry. Tamil Nadu is yet to catch up to Andhra in this regard.