Livestock Industry

Poultry:

1. Environmentally Controlled (EC) Poultry Sheds:High density of poultry farming in West Bengal coupled with the 8-10 months of hot and humid weather, makes flocks particularly vulnerable to disease outbreaks. EC sheds with provides higher productivity in terms of lower feed consumption ration , lower mortality, better body weight and lower mean-age. With an investment of Rs.75-80 lacs per shed and pay-back period of 2-3 years, EC shed based broiler farming is an attractive business in the live Stock Section.
2.  Layer Farming:
   Environmentally Controlled (EC) layer farms typically have production efficiency of +95%. Which means 95 commercial eggs are daily produced by every 100 birds in laying period. With cost of production at Rs.3.5/egg and whole-sale prices at 4.5-5, decent sized farms can generate profit of Rs.1 lac per day.
3. Breeder Farms:
   Hatching eggs typically sell at Rs.30-35 whereas the cost of production is Rs.18-19. With an investment of Rs.10 cr, a breeder farm of 30,000 birds in-laying can be set up with pay-back period of 3 years.
4.  Chicken Processing:Processed chicken – slaughtered, cleaned and then chilled/frozen and packaged is how chicken is sold in advanced countries. In India, wet-markets are more common. However, these are unhygienic and are environmental hazards in terms of solid wastes and water pollution. In some of the areas in India like Delhi NCR, wet markets have been banned a trend which is expected to catch-up in other metros.With an investment of below Rs.25 cr, a chicken processing plant can be set up. With average bird price at Rs.100 per kg + processing cost of Rs.30 per kg, margin of Rs.25-30 can be generated through sale of chilled/frozen chicken.

Fish Farming, Processing and Export

West Bengal is the largest consumer of Fish. However, the fish farming practices in West Bengal are largely traditional. Hence the productivity is low and cost of production high making WB dependent of imports of fish from AP.

Industrial Farming of Fish, processing and export to countries with large Indian and Bangladeshi diaspora provides an high profit business opportunity.

Shrimp Farming, Processing and Export

The climatic, soil and salinity conditions of East Midnapore is quite similar to Godavari and Krishna districts of AP. However, WB produces a miniscule fraction of the shrimp produced and exported by AP. This is because, unlike in WB, AP has large corporates involved in shrimp farming. These corporates in addition to working with local farmers, have hundreds of acres of leased/owned ponds for growing shrimp.

These companies provide seed, feed and medicines to farmers and buyback their harvest which they process and export generating 1000s of crores in revenue and profit.

While there would be more than 100 companies (large and small) involved in the shrimp business, West Bengal has none.

Milk Processing:

Milk is a crowded market with thin profit margin. However, processed milk products – dahi, yogurt (plain and flavoured), paneer, cheese lassi, flavoured milk provide attractive market opportunity. With investment upto Rs.15 cr, a plant of 50,000 ltrs/day processing capacity can be set up. With attractive margins of value-added products, a pay-back period of 3 years can easily be achieved.