Friday, May 27, 2011

Emu Salughtering - a Franchise Model ?

Emu Slaughtering is the lifeline for Emu Farming Industry. If it is not established soon, the industry will be waning.

Here it comes a new concept on Emu Slaughtering - on Franchise Model.

Emu Slaughtering has to be approved by Animal Husbandry Ministry, which it takes its own time to approve and hence this is one major reason emu slaughtering houses are getting delayed to start their operation. But an approval is not required for a Butcher, except getting sanitary certificate from the local municipality. 

Instead of relying on few big Slaughtering Houses to procure emu birds on live-weight basis in large numbers, there is a new thinking of franchising the slaughtering house model to Butchers in cities. 

How does it work?

Concept:  

The emu slaughtering is not so popular in retail level, because, Butchers do not know how to process this bird and also how to handle the byproducts and biological wastes originating from them. The Butchers are need to be invited to join a free program, where they will be systematically trained on the emu slaughtering in their shops. Systematically here means, teaching & training them on how to do the following: removing the skin with out knifing, removing the feathers without leaving holes in the skin, separating the fat without blood stains, and  handling the biological wastes, etc.

  1. Butcher will pay for 3 birds average live weight cost @ 40 Kg x 275 x 3= 33,000/-. It can be arranged with a bank to grant unsecured micro lonas to the butchers. As banks provide the money to the franchiser directly, whereas the butcher owes money to bank.
  2. The Emu birds will be given to them on a daily basis, the butcher will sell the meat and be settling the money on the same day evening and along with that, the fat, feathers, and skin also will be collected by the franchier.
  3. A Delivery van, with cages for each bird to be built and used to deliver the birds. The birds are expected to be delivered before 6 am in the morning.
  4. A Collection van with refrigeration facilities and a safe vault (to keep money), to be visiting each butcher around 4 pm in the evening to collect the money and FAT.
  5. The big farmers are to be signed agreement to supply birds @ 250/kg live weight at their farm gate. 
  6. An arrangement with Emu Fat processing units (one is already running in Pondicherry) will give you a regular market for the fat. Same applies for Skin and Feathers. There are consumers for it.
Let's look at the cost aspects:
  • What does Breeder get?

A Emu bird will reach 40 Kgs at 10th month by changing the feed combination. The purpose made feed combination will help the bird to store lot of fat at the age of 10th months. The selling cost at the 10th month for each bird is: Rs. 10,000. you have spend Rs.4500(feed)+Rs.2500 (chick production cost+labor), which costs you around Rs.7,000/-. You get Rs.3000/- per bird. If your farm is producing 1000 birds every year, you get 30,00,000/- as profit, whereas your sales, is Rs.1,00,00,000. It's a good 30% margin. Breeder gets his money on cash and carry basis.

  • What does the Franchiser get?
The Franchiser who does running the distribution network, virtually starts up with very small investment, compared to the Emu Breeder. A bunch of people, several custom-built lorries, and a systematic approach and sincerity to the business are enough to make the big success. Apart from the investment in the infrastructure, Franchiser makes Rs.2000/- per bird straightaway. If the lorry carries 60 birds at a time, it is 60,000/- per trip as total Gross Profit. The advance money is paid by the butcher, as this money is coming from Banks (Citi, HSBC, SCB, etc) as an unsecured Microfinancing Loan. Government is forcing the banks to disburse microfinancing loans as a percentage of their total capital requirement. Actually, these banks are looking for a reliable opportunity and partner to work with. The advance money is with Franchiser to pay in cash to the breeder. Breeder gets his money on cash and carry basis. The fat collected is at Rs.1000/Kg from Butcher and is sold to the Emu oil processing unit at Rs.1,200/Kg, which makes an another Rs.60,000/- per trip of 60 birds (60 birds @ 5 Kg x Rs.200 [1200-1000=200] = 60,000). Each butcher can sell atleast two birds a day (25 Kg meat for each bird) and you can easily find 30-50 butchers in a city to market your product. To increase your sales numbers, you need to advertise periodically about the health aspects of emu meat in Papers and TV. 

  • What does the butcher get?
Butcher initially deposits Rs.33,000/- to the franchiser for 3 emu birds at 40 Kg live weight at the rate of Rs.275/Kg, and the money is given by bank as microfinancing loan with no collateral. Butcher sells 25 Kg of meat per bird(with bones, albeit) @ Rs.300-325/Kg, sells 5 Kg of fat to the franchiser at Rs.1000/Kg, and Skin is selling at Rs.500/Skin. The total sales is Rs.13,000, against the bird cost of Rs.11,000/-. The net revenue is Rs.2,000/bird. If he sells two birds, he can make Rs.4,000/day on emu birds. Butcher is not sparing the money from his packet to pay the advance, which he can settle over a period of 3 years to the bank. And also, he is delivered with birds at his doorstep, and the fat is sold at his doorstep to the franchiser on the same day. It's no-pain business for him.

In general, Emu industry will be flourishing if this model gets implemented. If you need further clarification/information/suggestion on this, please email to me at jm.emufarm-at-g.mail_com.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Updated: Impact of Free Goats to Farmers in TN on Emu farming.

An Update (10th July 2011): 

Tamil Nadu Govt has announced that they are going to give 4 goats for each family for 7 lakh families in Tamil Nadu over a period of 5 years. Hence, TN will need 28 lakh (2.8 million) goats for 5 years and 1900 goats every day.

The Age of the goats will be 4-6 months. The eligible families shall not have any agricultural land. An officer will accompany them to the nearby market to buy the goat kids, and the government will borne the transport charges for bring the goat kids to home.

Will the goat farmers sell 4-6 months kids in large numbers?... Some body can clarify..!!??

Impact of Free Goats to Farmers in TN on Emu farm

Newly sworn-in TN Govt has promised to give away free goats for poor farmers to create a livelyhood for them. The BPL (Below Poverty Line) is ascribed at 22.5% of the TN population, which is roughly 32 lakh families (assuming 5 in a family). Each family will be given 4 goats, which will be 1.30 crores Goats in 5 years, which is 2.1 lakh goats every month, which turns out to be 7000 goats every day irrespective of holidays. 


So, Tamil Nadu is going to need 7,000 goats every day to give away to poor Farmers.

This is in addition to the existing consumption, which is already suffering the supply constraints. The poor supply for daily consumption of goat meat has already raised the goat meat prices past Rs.300/Kg mark.


What do you think the Goat Meat prices will be heading to....??


If it exceeds Rs.350/Kg mark, and still people wanted to eat Meat for purpose or pleasure, either the Beef will be entering into this area, or meats like Emu meat can take that place.

Are Emu breeders ready to take up this opportunity? Are they listening...???

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Good News on Emu Slaughtering Houses

I recently had discussion with few industry veterans about the upcoming emu slaughtering units in and around Tamil Nadu and AP. They were very positive and confident about the slaughtering business, and I noticed that they are bit worried too, for not going to get enough stocks for the Slaughtering house. This will initiate a supply/demand gap, possibly in the coming year 2011/2012.

The Good News is that, Vileena Emu (AP) will be starting their Slaughtering House in July, same goes for Jeevan Emu Farm, Dindigul (TN). In addition to these two, I understand that another few units are coming up, and I am getting more details about them. Soon, I will bring those information here.

The price offered are Rs.250/Kg live bird weight at the Slaughter House Gate. This seems to be pretty standard rate. I believe this rate will go up once the Emu Meat Market demand is picking up.

The Bright lights are started showing up in Emu Farming Industry in India. It's a good news, indeed.








Friday, April 8, 2011

Some Clarifications on Emu farming

There was a thread in www.agricultureinformation.com about emu farming. The following questions were raised in that thread:

1. where to sell the emu meat, emu eggs and etc....
2. who is regulating/controling the rates of emu products.

3. Do we have processing units to extract the emu oil, emu meat, other stuff.
4. Do we have gov regulated exporting system for emu to other countries.
no body does have perfect answer to this emu farming.
 

I have discussed the above questions in this blog in the previous entries. Let's look it again:

1. where to sell the emu meat, emu eggs and etc....

Obviously emu meat has to be sold to the consumer's like you and me in India. Currently there is no supply chain to carry emu meat to consumer's kitchen. The closely held market is in several Non-Veg Restaurants in Major Cities, which is offering Emu Meat based dishes and being received well. Unfortunately, we have only leg-bend emus for culling. No healthy herd just for culling purpose, because of sheer numbers. 

Please read this blog entry for knowing more about discussing this issue.

Eggs have to be sold to Hatcheries. If you couldn't find one nearby, set up one. It doesn't cost much. 
 
2. who is regulating/controlling the rates of emu products.

Market force, i.e, Demand and Supply will decide this rate. Once the adoption is high, and when the demand is exceeding supply, the rates for the birds will go up. This is very simple market calculation.

Regulating the rates for emu birds' is definitely not  the Government's business. If that's the case, we won't be having general price rise across India in commodities. 

In the near future, it will be the Slaughtering House Owner's will decide the rate for emu birds. Unless you have a integrated farming, i.e., you grow your own feed for emus, and buy only the essential medicines across the counter. This will save you a lot in feed costs. Other costs seems not having any variable portion at the most, i.e. quite static expenses. 


3. Do we have processing units to extract the emu oil, emu meat, other stuff.

Emu processing units are coming up, in Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. If my guess is correct, there will be 4 units in South India by end of 2011. These units are mainly focusing on slaughtering. Emu Oil processing requires special permissions, hence only few in the entire country will be able to do it, commercially. One of my friend in Tamil Nadu, already got this license from Central Government.

4. Do we have gov regulated exporting system for emu to other countries.

Govt does regulate  hygiene aspects of this trade, as is happening to other meat product exports. Emu Meat is neither a rare item, nor a regulated/controlled item like deer meat. Hence, this question doesn't arise. In general, while exporting, it is the buyer's terms & conditions that rules. 


Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Emu Eggs - Some Facts

Now, Emu industry is quite, because everyone is concentrating on collecting eggs, and monitoring their hatcheries. This is the Egg Laying season, and several of them already have chicks in their Hatcheries. Let's look into some interesting facts about Emu Eggs.

Laying Cycle:

  • Emu birds lay eggs in a cycle of 5 or 6 eggs in a month. 
  • After each cycle, there will be a gap of one week.
  • Gap between two eggs is 72-74 hours (3 days).
  • Emu Eggs weighs 400grams to 700 grams in general. 
  • Average weight is 550 grams.
  • In an average, there will be 4-6 cycles every season. (5x4=20eggs min; 6x6=36eggs max)
  • Eggs will be laid in evenings or in early mornings. You can collect them around 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm. 
Egg Types:
  • Each egg from a pair will be of same size and same weight, most of the times.
  • Eggs are in dark green color with thick shell.
  • Eggs are sometime in light green (whitish) color, which shows that some nutrients are missing, especially calcium. Add calcium supplements to the feed.
  • Sometimes, you will get shell-less eggs -  eggs with just thick white membrane. This is caused by serious calcium deficiency. Add seashells powder to the feed.
  • Eggs rarely formed a double-yoke. Double yoke eggs weigh almost 900grams to 1200 grams. These are useless, they never hatch. Better use it for "Big Family Omlette or Party Omlette"
Egg Handling:

  • Egg handling does decide the hatchability of the Eggs.
  • Egg has to be collected shortly after the laying. Do not leave it in open yard for too long.
  • Egg has to be cleaned before storing. Clean it with a Warm water, and then use an antiseptic liquid with a cotton to clean it. This is to prevent bacterias.
  • Store the eggs in below normal temperature, say 22-26 degree celcius. If you couldn't maintain at that temperature, use a dark place to store it. A earthern pot is also useful.
  • While storing the eggs, keep them in horizontal state. Do not keep them upwards.
  • Use it within 7 days of storage (in a dark room condition). If you are storing at 22-26 degrees, you can keep it for upto 3 weeks (I have tested and the hatchability is 80%).
  • While transporting from location to another location, use a thermocol box, which has been designed to carry the eggs. Otherwise, road conditions may prove fatal for the eggs.
Egg Buying:

  • Eggs are sold to Hatcheries, where people do not have their own incubators.
  • Do not buy eggs from a distance of not more than 3-hours travelling time. 
  • To ensure the air bag is intact inside the egg, use a warm water to test the eggs. If the air bag is intact, the Egg will float. Otherwise, it will sink.
  • Visit the farm atleast once, where the eggs are coming from. Teach them the above mentioned Egg-handling habits.

I would appreciate people can feedback on the Egg prices in their region, as a response to this post.

Monday, December 27, 2010

NABARD assistance for Emu Farming

Many a times, there was a discussion going on in forums or emails received in volumes asking about govt assistance on emu farming. We have something here in X five year plan by Govt of India, through NABARD.

A Fellow emu farmer and my friend, Mr. Vidyasankar of PAN Emu farm has sent this email to me on NABARD assistance on Emu Farming. I am posting here for other people to know of the assistance.

Please look at the underlined statements, which shows that you need only 10% of the total cost of the project. Remaining 90% can be given by Banks.

This information also available at:   http://dahd.nic.in/guideddpaulfund.htm


OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES
ON
CENTRAL SECTOR PLAN SCHEME
“DAIRY/POULTRY VENTURE CAPITAL FUND”
1. Background

1.1 Dairy 


Milk production in India is characterized by small rural producers scattered all over the country accounting for about 70 per cent of production. Although the organized sector, which produces western type products also has shown fast growth in the last three decades, it still accounts for only 15 per cent of the total milk produced in the country and a far larger proportion of milk continues to be marketed by the unorganized sector - comprising innumerable vendors, small processors, merchants, manufacturers and retailers of indigenous milk products like khoa, paneer, dahi and milk based sweets, etc. But the main problem in the unorganized sector is quality, which creates a serious threat to the health of consumers. Unsanitary local conditions, unhygienic containers, substandard processing equipment, poor handling methods, breaks in the cold chain etc contribute to poor quality and at times unsafe milk in the unorganized sector. To bring about structural changes in the unorganized sector, the measures like processing at village level, process and market pasteurized milk in a cost effective manner, quality up gradation and up gradation of traditional technology to handle commercial scale using modern equipment and management skills, it is proposed to introduce the dairy venture capital fund scheme under which assistance can be provided to the rural beneficiaries under a schematic proposal through bankable projects. These projects should include activities like private veterinary clinics and other support services needed for the growth of the sector.

1.2 Poultry

With the various efforts made by the Government of India, ICAR, State Governments, Financial Institutions and private sector etc. poultry has developed well in the country. However, these efforts have resulted in growth only in a few states and a considerable segment in the poultry sector is still unorganized and is spread over in the form of small farms in far-flung areas that still need organized efforts to exploit this potential. The training and marketing also continue to be the weakest link in various poultry development programmes. Due to these limitations, poultry development, particularly, in the North Eastern States and Eastern states is still at a very primitive stage. In the absence of organized marketing and training programme the poultry development programme is not able to realize its full potential.

2. Objectives

2.1 The main objective of the scheme is to create a venture capital fund for providing financial assistance to agricultural farmers/ individual entrepreneurs and groups of all sections of unorganized as well as organized sector for the following purposes:

Ø To promote setting up of small dairy farms for milk production
Ø To bring structural changes in the unorganized sector; processing and marketing of pasteurized milk at village level
Ø To bring about upgradation of quality and traditional technology to handle milk on a commercial scale
Ø To boost the unorganized poultry sector in states where development is in primitive state and also to give incentive and create infrastructure facilities for export of poultry products by organized sector from advanced states
Ø Establishment of poultry and breeding farms with low input technology and also for other poultry species
Ø Setting up of poultry feed plant/ laboratory
Ø Setting up of egg grading, packing and storing facility for promoting export
Ø Marketing of poultry products (specialized transport vehicles, cold storage etc)

3. Activities/Total Outlay/Area of operation covered under the scheme:

3.1 The funds will be distributed among dairy and poultry activities with an overall ratio of 2:1. The following activities will be funded under the scheme either individually or in combination.
(A) Components, which can be funded under dairy sector:
1. Establishment of small dairy farms – upto 10 animal units (Buffalo and crossbred cows) for milk production - Rs.3.00 lakhs - only in non-operation flood areas
2. Purchase of milking machines /milko testers / bulk milk cooling units (upto 2000 lit capacity)
- Rs.15.00 lakhs
3. Purchase of dairy processing equipment for manufacturing indigenous milk products - Rs.10 lakhs
4. Establishment of dairy product transportation facilities including cold chain – Rs.20.00 lakhs
5. Cold storage facilities for milk and milk products – Rs.25.00 lakhs
6. Establishment of private veterinary clinics – Rs.2.00 lakhs for mobile and Rs.1.50 lakhs for stationary clinics.
(B) Components, which can be funded under poultry sector:
1. Establishing poultry breeding farms with low input technology birds and also for ducks/turkey/guinea fowl/Japanese quail/emu/ostrich etc – Rs.30.00 lakhs
2. Establishment of feed godown, feed mill, feed analytical unit – Rs.16.00 lakhs
3. Marketing of poultry products (specialized transport vehicle, cool room storage facilities and retention shed for birds etc) - Rs.25.00 lakhs
4. Egg grading, packing and storage for export capacity - Rs.80.00 lakhs
5. Retail poultry dressing unit (upto 300 birds per day) - Rs.5.00 lakhs
6. Egg/broiler carts for sale of poultry products - Rs.0.10 lakhs
7. Central grower unit (12,500 birds per batch and 4 batches per year) -20.00 lakhs.
The Scheme can be implemented in any part of India. However, thrust needs be given in states like Uttaranchal, Maharashtra, U.P., Karnataka, Tamil Nadu,. Punjab, M.P, Orissa, A.P., Rajasthan, and North-Eastern states during 2004-05. For N.E. states an allocation of Rs.2.0 crores out of Rs.7.2 crores may be made while S.B.I, P.N.B., Indian bank and Canara Bank have promised to take lead in implementing this scheme, other commercial banks, cooperative banks and regional rural banks may also participate as per the field level demand. 


4. Eligibility

4.1 The eligible beneficiaries shall include agricultural farmers/ individual entrepreneurs and groups of all sections of unorganized as well as organized sector. Preference may be given to traditional sweet makers (Halwais) to improve quality and hygiene of their products. In poultry, preference will be given to  Pheriwalas, which will generate self-employment for urban poor. Veterinary Science Graduates alone will be considered for providing loan under the component of veterinary clinics.

4.2 The indications given in Paragraph 3 above only show the maximum outlay of the project to be included under the scheme. The State level Review and Disbursement Committee will ensure that maximum number of units receives the benefit under the scheme and the spread of the proposals approved is not limited to one area/activity.

5. Preparation of Projects

5.1 The borrowers selected by identified banks will be financed for specific activities under dairy/poultry sector and assisted under the scheme. The borrowers will prepare a bankable project and submit it to the banks for consideration under the scheme. The fund provided by DAH&D will be kept with NABARD and will act as a revolving fund from which the beneficiaries under the scheme will be given a interest free loan of 50% of the total cost of the project/proposal subject to the ceiling indicated above in Para 3. 10% of the total investment will be borne by the borrower as his margin and the bank will charge an interest rate applicable as per their norms on the balance loan amount of 40% of the project cost. This will help the borrower in reducing his interest burden. A list of schemes/components, which may qualify under this scheme, has already been described above in Para 3. The Banks will adhere to their own appraisal norms. However, the checklist to facilitate the compliance of the requirements of formulation/scrutiny/appraisal in respect of the scheme will be provided to the banks by NABARD.

6. Implementation period and funding pattern

6.1 The scheme will be implemented during the X Plan period. It is an umbrella project under which individual schemes will be sanctioned.
6.2 There is a provision of Rs.7.20 crores for the scheme during the current financial year
6.3 Scheme funding/ Pattern of Investment:
Entrepreneur’s Contribution: 10% of total outlay
Revolving Fund’s (GOI)share:50% of total outlay - no interest
Bank’s share: 40% of total outlay - interest as applicable to agriculture loans

7. Implementing Institutions

7.1 NABARD will be the Nodal Agency for implementation of the scheme. The scheme will be implemented by Commercial Banks, Cooperative Banks and RRBs.

8. Disbursement of Loan/Revolving Fund

8.1 The financing bank will disburse the loan within 7 days of the approval of the State Level Review and Disbursement Committee to the borrower to whom the loan has already been sanctioned. The Bank will not charge interest from the borrower on the amount received by it from the revolving fund.

9. Submission of proposals for release of interest free loan portion
9.1 The format in which the banks will claim the interest free loan amount from the revolving fund is enclosed at Annexure II. The Bank’s controlling office will submit the consolidated claim, activity wise to NABARD RO on a fortnightly basis.

10. Sanction of project and release of amount from Revolving Fund and Repayment of loan
10.1 For the first year, NABARD ROs will implement the scheme in the states identified and launch the scheme with the participation of the banks in all the districts. The bank will identify beneficiaries for the activities under the scheme.
10.2 The project will be sanctioned by the bank after proper scrutiny as per its laid down procedure and satisfying itself that the proposal is viable and meets the conditions prescribed under the scheme. The bank will submit its claim in the prescribed format to the Regional Office of NABARD after sanction of the loan proposal.
10.3 The State level Review and Disbursement committee headed by RO, Incharge of NABARD will have representatives of leading banks, other banks expected to participate in the scheme and the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Departments of the concerned State Govts and will meet at least once in a fortnight. Thus, the maximum time taken to clear a proposal will not be more than 15 days.
10.4 Fifty percent of the total outlay i.e. the interest free loan portion, out of revolving fund, will be released by NABARD to the bank after scrutiny of the claim. For this, the State level Review and Disbursement Committee (SLRDC) will accord approval for disbursement of loan on the basis of first come first serve basis and considering the merits of the case and authorise release of the amount by NABARD Head Office. The Committee will ensure the timely disbursement of loan preferably with in 7 days, once it is approved. Accordingly, NABARD HO will release the amount to the participating banks from the revolving fund. A ratio of 2:1 may be maintained between the loan released for dairy and poultry sectors respectively at the national level.
10.5 The bank will release the entire loan amount in instalments depending upon the progress of implementation of the project. The bank will affect recovery as per its prescriptions and will return pro rata of the recovery made to NABARD for crediting towards the revolving fund on an annual basis.

11. Repayment of Loan

11.1 Repayment period of loan will depend upon the cash flow and will be up to a maximum of 7 years including grace period of two years. Any deficiency in repayment in the project will be the responsibility of the bank as the borrowers are to be identified and selected by them.

12. Recovery/Passing on Revolving fund amount

12.1 The recovery of loan , when made will be divided between GOI’s and bank’s share of loan on pro rata basis.

13. Unit Cost

13.1 The maximum outlay of the project for individual borrowers has been given in Para 3. Unit cost will depend on the type of investment, size of operation, and type of equipment and infrastructure needs. The State level Review and Disbursement Committee at the Regional Office of NABARD will consider the above factors while deciding on the interest free loan amount to be released.

14. Refinance Assistance

14.1 NABARD would provide refinance to participating banks for 90% of the amount financed by the banks as term loan. Rate of interest on refinance will be decided by NABARD from time to time.

15. Security Norms

15.1 The security norms will be as prescribed by Reserve Bank of India from time to time.

16. Adjustment in Borrower’s Account

16.1 The bank can charge interest as per its norms on its portion of the loan account but should not charge any interest on amount drawn from the revolving fund. The bank will disburse the loan amount after it receives interest free portion from the revolving fund. It shall recover the loan amount as per instalments prescribed and pass on pro rata portion of the amount recovered back to NABARD on yearly basis. The loan amount will vary depending on the purpose for which the loan is given.

16.2 Regular repayments will make the borrower eligible for interest subsidy on the bank loan portion (to the extent of 40% of the outlay) upto 50% of the interest payable. The bank will charge the usual interest amount on this portion and for only the regular repayment; it will claim 50% of the amount interest charged from NABARD as subsidy. On receipt of the subsidy from NABARD the amount will be credited to the borrower’s account. This subsidy will be claimed from NABARD on yearly basis as per the format to be prescribed by NABARD.

17. Monitoring

17.1 The National level Joint Monitoring Committee will be headed by Joint Secretary, Dairy Development (Dept. of AH and Dairying, MOA, GOI) and will have representatives of NABARD, State Bank of India, UCO Bank, Punjab National Bank, Canara Bank and Indian Bank and Secretaries of AH and Dairy Development of four State Governments on rotational basis. This Committee will formulate guidelines for the implementation of the scheme and monitor the implementation of the scheme. NABARD will closely monitor the units financed and will conduct periodic inspections to verify the utilization and study the working of the scheme.

17.2 The State level Review and Disbursement Committee (SLRDC) will be headed by RO of NABARD and will include representative of banks expected to participate in the scheme and Animal Husbandry and Dairy Departments of the concerned State Govt. The Committee will authorise release of the interest free loans as well as the interest subsidy to banks. The Committee will meet on a fortnightly basis and send bank-wise, activity-wise and district-wise statement to GOI and NABARD HO on monthly basis. It will also help in popularising the scheme in the state. The RO, NABARD will also be the convener of the SLRDC.

17.3 The participating banks will conduct periodic inspections of the units and give a feed back to the Joint Monitoring Committee on a consolidated basis and to the State Level Review and Disbursement Committee at the State Level on any deviation / misutilisation of funds.

17.4 On completion of the project, the participating bank would submit a completion certificate to DAH & D through NABARD.

18. Role of various agencies

18.1 NABARD
ü To administer the revolving fund and conduct fortnightly meeting of State Level Review and Disbursement Committee along with financing banks and Animal Husbandry and/or Dairy Department of the concerned State.
ü To scrutinize the claims of the bank and release the amount claimed
ü To monitor the scheme on a regular basis and provide a report to DAH&D, GOI on monthly basis.
ü To plan for improvement and expansion of the scheme for future, based on the feed back

18.2 Banks
ü To identify, receive and sanction the projects received from the borrowers for various purposes identified under the scheme and disburse the loan amount within 7 days of approval by State Level Review and Disbursement Committee.
ü To recover the loan amount as per repayment schedule and repay the amount recovered on the loan portion out of the revolving fund to NABARD on yearly basis.
ü To provide feed back on implementation of the scheme at State and national level.

18.3 Role of DAH&D
ü To convene the meetings of the Joint Monitoring Committee regularly and review the implementation with NABARD and financing banks. At least one meeting will be held in each quarter.
ü To plan and expand the scheme in future as per the feed back received from NABARD and financing Banks.
ü To undertake field visits of projects on sample basis and make funds available as and when needed

19. Publicity

19.1 NABARD and the implementing banks will make efforts for wide publicity at the district and State levels through organisation of Workshops and through Farmers’ Clubs, Non-Governmental Organizations and rural branches of financing banks.
19.2 The members of the State Level Review & Disbursement Committee will also help in popularizing the scheme.

20. Other conditions :

* A signboard at the site "DAH&D Assisted Project" will also be exhibited.
* DAH&D reserves the right to modify, add, and delete any terms/conditions without assigning any reason.
* DAH&D's interpretation of various terms will be final.
* DAH&D reserves the right to recall any amount given under the scheme without assigning any reason thereof.
* Any other pre & post inspection would be undertaken by DAH&D representative to find out the physical & financial progress as and when required.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Neck Pain?.... Sleep on Emu Pillow.

Neck pain? Sleep on an Emu pillow

Amit Sharma, TNN, Dec 4, 2010, 04.51am IST

CHANDIGARH: If you have neck and spine problems and have been advised by your doctor to avoid pillows, there is help at hand from unexpected quarters – a bird that cannot fly.

Research has proved that special pillows padded with Emu feathers can be of help. A Punjab-based firm declared on Friday at the Agro-Tech fair, organized by CII, that they are in advanced stage of production of these pillows and will hit the market soon.

And, this bird from Down Under will also provide a range of products — from medicine to cure low sperm count and warm jackets to cholesterol-free and odourless eggs. "The softness of Emu feathers gives it the edge and pillows made of these are good for children in their formative stages," says Yuvraj Goel, a director of Emu Farm Agro. "Emu feathers are also used to make dusters and key chains. These products range from Rs 150, depending on the quantity. Jackets made of Emu leather and fur are also popular. Reversible jackets have been introduced in the market that cost about Rs 7,000," said Goel.

[Courtesy: Times of India]