‘Smart farmer’ successfully sets up piggery at Jhargram, thank to ‘Duare Sarkar’- GetBengal story
Pig Farming in West Bengal
Pig farming in India is one of the most lucrative and profitable livestock businesses and most people are successful in the commercial pig-rearing business. With stable profits and strong potential for quick growth, pig rearing is increasingly the trade of choice for business-minded youngsters in West Bengal.
Even in the recent past, the majority of pigs were reared in traditional small-scale production systems. Besides providing protein for human consumption, pigs are often one of the main sources of cash income in rural areas and provide manure for cropping. Further, it provides a financial safety umbrella in distress and plays a role in the cultural traditions of communities. Among tribal communities in India, smallholder pig rearing provides nutritional, and financial benefits as well as providing for conversion of household waste into fertilizer for crops.
Smart Farmer Bablu Singh at his piggery
Bablu Singh, a resident of Kenduana village, Tapsia Gram Panchayat, Gopiballavpur-II Block, Jhargram District, availed Kisan Credit Card, Animal Husbandry and Fishery (KCC-AH) loan to set up his dream project, Munda Pig Farm, in a backward lonely area of Gopiballavpur. Singh has been a small marginal farmer, rearing 4–5 indigenous breeds of pig.
Since ancient times, a stigma was attached to pig farming, and raising pigs was considered the profession of socially backward, marginalized people. However, the scenario has changed dramatically in the past few years and commercial pig farming in India is no more confined to the minority groups. Nowadays, people are conscious of the economic value of pigs like other domestic stock animals.
In Bengal, pig farming has been churning out rural entrepreneurs for some time and they tend to agree that the business gives huge returns if undertaken diligently and with care. Pork is in huge demand in Bengal and neighbouring states. There are numerous pig breeds available throughout the world but local breeds, which are easily available and adopted in a particular area can be reared easily.
Recently, Bablu Singh, a resident of Kenduana village, Tapsia Gram Panchayat, Gopiballavpur-II Block, Jhargram District, availed Kisan Credit Card, Animal Husbandry and Fishery (KCC-AH) loan to set up his dream project, Munda Pig Farm, in a backward lonely area of Gopiballavpur. Singh has been a small marginal farmer, rearing 4–5 indigenous breeds of pig. Once while visiting Block Animal Health Centre (BAHC) to resolve some animal health-related issues, he was introduced to the local Block Livestock Development Officer who informed Singh about the KCC-ARD Scheme and encouraged him to expand his farm. The officer also suggested he apply for the loan via the Duare Sarkar scheme. Duare Sarkar is an initiative of the state government, spread over 30 days, for delivery of specific schemes of the state government at the doorsteps of the people through outreach camps organized at the level of gram panchayat and municipal ward level.
Bablu saw a glimmer of hope and on February 10, 2022, he applied for the KCC-AH loan at the Duare Sarkar camp, which was being held close to his home. His application was sent to the bank on February 23, 2022, and was sanctioned on May 26, 2022. Once Bablu received the funds from the KCC-AH loan, he started to work to set up his piggery farm.
He established Munda Pig Farm on the rear side of the Gopiballavpur-II Block. The Block Livestock Development Officer guided him at every step and helped him minimize the feeding costs. He was taught to prepare a high-quality feed mixture for the optimum growth and development of pigs. Training and experimental programmes on scientific pig farming were conducted and he was guided to set up all necessary infrastructure at his farm. This expedited Bablu’s venture.
Duare Sarkar - an initiative of the Westbengal Government.
Within this short span, Bablu has succeeded in rearing exotic breeds like White Yorkshire pigs along with indigenous breeds. There is good demand for white pigs across Bengal and in Sikkim and its neighbouring countries like Nepal and Bhutan. Thanks to Bablu’s astuteness and proper utilization of KCC-AH funds, he has turned into a skilled and successful farmer despite minimal formal education.
Bablu Singh has been enrolled under the government scheme (2022-23) as a livestock supplier and has already supplied 10 piglets to Binpur-I Block for the Block Livestock Development Office (BLDO). Thanks to the Duare Sarkar camp, Bablu Singh, is now a well-known pig farmer of Gopiballavpur. If any other individual expresses interest in setting up a piggery, the state government is willing to provide with the necessary training and other help required to set up a farm.
