On Wednesday the cooperative lender NCDC organized a national workshop on “Entrepreneurship Development Through Duck Farming” where scores of experts offered their views and recounted the importance of duck farming especially in doubling the income of farmers.
Manipur Cooperative Minister Nemcha Kipgen inaugurated the webinar where more than 400 people registered through Zoom and scores were connected live on YouTube.
The idea of organizing the webinar on the Duck Farming was designed by NCDC MD Sundeep Nayak. In his introductory remarks, Nayak welcomed the participants and apprised them of the objective of organizing this unique webinar on duck farming.
It was said NCDC has sanctioned 377 projects in the poultry sector so far and released more than Rs 96 crore for the projects.
On the occasion, experts and several representatives of the government shared their views and suggestions. Ministry of Rural Development, GOI, Secretary N N Sinha said in his keynote address that Duck farming is not only easy for rearing in comparison to other forms of farming but also a good initiative to eradicate poverty from the country because it’s a good source of income. Besides, Duck eggs are nutritional and the rates of eggs and meat of duck are high in comparison to chicken”, he added.
“It can be done in an Integrated farming system particularly when you take up fish and duck farming together. For duck farming you don’t require very huge ponds where ducks can swim. One of the issues is that breeding farms are not there in most parts of the country and the other issue is the marketing of eggs as well as meat among the urban consumers”, he asserted.
In his special address Dr. B N Tripathi, DDG (AS), ICAR said, “Duck farming with limited investment in the backyard may help in income generation and it is also a good source for farmers for doubling their income. but Scientific intervention in duck farming is very important. Scientists should find an economic model for nutrition and to use local resources so that nutritional requirements can be met at local level.
On the occasion, C R Garg, Secretary Coop, Govt of Goa said the demand of duck eggs and meat in Goa is very high especially during the Christmas. Duck farming will be excellent opportunities for the farmers to increase their income particularly through the coop sector. At present we are having 16 farming cooperative societies and 2 poultry coop societies and can be promoted through these societies. High cost of labour and feed is the big challenge for duck farmers in Goa”, he underlined.
Another participant, Tinku Biswal, Secretary AH, Govt of Kerala said, In our state there is a huge demand for both egg and meat and we would like to give a boost to duck farming. There is higher demand for duck meat in comparison to chicken.
Dr V K Saxena, ADG, ICAR said Duck farming is not given much importance compared to poultry farming. The initiative is the first of its kind taken by NCDC.
Several farmers shared their experiences on the occasion. There was also a Question and Answers session. Dr S K Tehedur Rahman, DD, NCDC proposed a vote of thanks.