'Patience and dedication necessary to succeed'
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 22 2016:
"Patience and dedication are all we need to acheive success and survive in this competitive world.
I have been rearing ducks for over 20 years to support my family and send my children to school," asserted duck farmer Leitangthem Nando.
Speaking exclusively to The Sangai Express, Leitangthem Nando who owns a duck farm at Shija Hospitals road said he first started rearing ducks at Lamphelpat over 20 years ago.
"We sell duck meat starting from Rs 200 to Rs 240 per kg to private meat shop owners.
My wife and my children would help in maintaining the farm.
We feed only rice husk, duckweed, water hyacinth and other green leaves to the ducks," informed Nando.
|
He continued, "The ducks would lay 2 full setter trays of eggs in a month.
Earlier, we used to sell one tray of eggs for Rs 200 but we now sell it for Rs 270 or Rs 280.As for the ducklings, we sell the local breed after rearing for 6 months and Bilaiti ducks after rearing for 4 months.
In a month, we earn approximately Rs 30,000 and sometimes more than after selling the eggs," he said.
Nando said that he was able to send his three children to school because of the hard work and dedication he has put into his farming activity.
"Following the outbreak of bird flu last April, officials of Directorate of Veterinary and Naimal Husbandry Services had to cull 280 local ducks and 50 Bilaiti ducks amounting to Rs 3 lakh.
However, we were compensated just Rs 62,000 by the department concerned," lamented Nando.
"We now have one hundred ducks in the farm and my family is working very hard to increase the number," Nando informed.
Nando is also engaged in fish farming.
"We have variety of fish species and we try to sell it during Ningol Chakouba festival.
In a year, we earn upto Rs 50,000.Lamphelpat is not a suitable place for fish farming so it is not a profitable activity for us.
However, we are putting extra effort to make sure that the business flourishes," Nando said.