2016

Entrepreneurship Management: Rural

Entrepreneurship

Ankur Vatsa, Durbar Dasgupta, Ishan Singh,

Kaushik Barua, Suhasish Basak
BFT VI

INTRODUCTION

Any development is not possible without taking the rural masses into account. Thus
innovations affecting the rural population are at the heart of any developmental process
in India .There has not been satisfactory improvement in the rural sector, problems such
as the middlemen standing between the farmers and the market and making away with
the profits. This can be stopped by encouraging entrepreneurship in rural areas.
Rural entrepreneurship is, in essence, that entrepreneurship which ensures value
addition to rural resources in rural areas engaging largely rural human resources. This
means that finished products are produced in rural areas out of resources obtained in
rural areas by largely rural people.
Rural innovations not only improve the productivity and efficiency of local farmers &
rural areas, but also have significant environmental and social impact by developing
eco friendly appropriate solutions to local problems. Rural innovations and
appropriate technologies are being created for viable and sustainable micro ventures.

Rural innovations and appropriate technologies are being created for viable and
sustainable micro ventures.
In India there are about 6.3 million villages contribute 60% of national income.
Unemployment is the main problem in Rural India.

A small innovation in the rural area would catch up the most of the population
and would facilitate to produce competitive products and increase the income of
rural people.
Entrepreneur has the ability to perceive latest economic opportunities and device
innovative strategies to increase the demand for their goods.

Rural entrepreneurial activity can be broadly classified in 4 types:

Individual Entrepreneurship - It is basically called proprietary i.e.single

ownership of the enterprise.
Group Entrepreneurship - It mainly covers partnership, private limited company
and public limited company.
Cluster Formation - It covers NGOs*, VOs*, CBOs*, SHGs* and even
networking of these groups. These also cover formal and non-formal
association of a group of individuals on the basis of caste, occupation,
income, etc.

Cooperatives - It is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily for

a common objective. An entrepreneur has to decide on a particular type of
entrepreneurship based on the various options available.

Some domains of rural entrepreneurship are :-

Food Processing
Dehydrated Fruits and Vegetables
Fruit Based Beverages
Mushrooms
Chikki Industry
Poultry Industry
Cottage and Handicrafts Industry
Oil Industry
Pottery
Repair of Phone/Mobile Phone, Electronic and Electrical goods

Some successful rural implementations are :-

Milk & Fruit Based Beverages: A washing machine converted to lassi maker.
Handicrafts Industry: Old clothes given new lives as curtains & cushion covers.
Paper & Areca Nut Plates, Clay made Idols and allied items.
Pottery Industry: An ingenious refrigerator made entirely from terracotta (clay)
that keeps water cool and fruits, vegetables and milk fresh for days and yet
doesn't use a single watt of electricity.
Modern Industries: A rural Business Process Outsourcing company.

CASE STUDY

INTRODUCTION
Backyard poultry keeping is practiced by majority of the poor and marginalized rural
households all over India. These households rely on low cost backyard poultry rearing
to supplement and enhance their livelihoods. It not only provides nutritional security but
also reduces the livelihood vulnerability, and promotes gender equity. Although income
in monetary terms from backyard poultry farming is negligible, female farmers continue
to keep poultry for socio-cultural and religious reasons .For the past three decades
focus has been on commercial poultry farming and India has without doubt made
progress at an astounding pace reflected by being the fifth largest egg producer and
eighteenth largest producer of broiler. However in this transformation from backyard
poultry to commercial poultry farming, indigenous poultry have got neglected in favour
of exotic poultry breeds that may have high production characteristics but also need
high inputs both in feed and management, which are not necessarily suitable to the rural
context.
The general perception that indigenous birds are not an economically viable livelihood
option is now being questioned by evidences available from various sources . India has
20 recognized indigenous poultry breeds which have sustained so far through
community efforts with very few, if any, external interventions. However, lack of animal
health delivery system, disease outbreaks and increased consumption has led to
decrease in indigenous poultry population from 50% of total poultry population to 10%
within a span of 30 years. This Note presents a government initiated project to
promote and introduce, in new areas, indigenous backyard poultry Broiler for
both bio-diversity conservation and livelihood generation that can successfully
enable tribal poultry rearers to reap financial benefits and as well as maintain
their poultry heritage. Although this project is fairly new and hand holding by
implementing agency continues, a number of lessons learnt can help in more successful
replication in future so that it may become a sustainable community led initiative.

BROILER BREED
Broiler is a native breed of poultry inhabiting the northern and eastern districts of West
Bengal. The climate is hot and the temperature varies between 20 c to 45 c. The Broiler
has been reared by tribals over a long period of time and its unique breed
characteristics have been established through many generations of selection and
fixation of genes.
Broiler chickens are a domesticated fowl, a subspecies of the Red Junglefowl, bred and
raised specifically for meat production. Typical broilers have white feathers and
yellowish skin. Most commercial broilers bred for meat reach slaughter weight at
between 5 to 7 weeks of age, although slower growing strains reach slaughter weight at
approximately 14 weeks of age. Broilers are usually grown as mixed-sex flocks in large
sheds under intensive conditions, but some strains can be grown as free-range flocks.
Because broiler chickens are the same species as egg laying hens, their behavioral
repertoires are initially similar, and also similar to those of other gallinaceous birds.
However, broiler behaviour is modified by the environment and alters as the broilers
age and bodyweight rapidly increase. For example, the activity of broilers reared
outdoors is initially greater than broilers reared indoors, but from six weeks of age,
decreases to comparable levels in all groups. The same study shows that in the
outdoors group, surprisingly little use is made of the extra space and facilities such as
perches it was proposed that the main reason for this was leg weakness as 80 per
cent of the birds had a detectable gait abnormality at seven weeks of age. There is no
evidence of reduced motivation to extend the behavioural repertoire, as, for example,
ground pecking remained at significantly higher levels in the outdoor groups because
this behaviour could also be performed from a lying posture rather than standing.

BROWN EGG LAYING BREEDS:

While all hens produce edible eggs containing the same nutritional benefits, only certain
ones are superior laying hens, excelling at egg production. Personally, I prefer brown
eggs so I base my breed choices on ones known for laying brown eggs. However,
brown eggs are not healthier than white eggs: I just like brown eggs. The chickens diet
controls the health benefits of eggs, the richness and color of the yolk and the birds
overall health.
Rhode Island Red: This is my favorite layer. They lay medium size brown eggs with an
above average laying rate. Being both cold and heat hardy, Rhode Island Reds are
good for any climate. They are easy to care for, adapting well to a penned or free-range
environment. Reds are a more aggressive breed so be careful what breeds you place
them with. These chickens are a good, dual-purpose breed and are well known for both
egg production and meat. If you want a do everything breed, this is the best breed.

Leghorn: The best egg layer available, these chickens lay extra-large white eggs,
producing over 300 a year. Even with their smaller size, they make a good dual-purpose
chicken; using them for meat, once their laying production declines. If you want a
meatier chicken go with the Plymouth Rock. Their egg production is lower but they are a
large chicken, with an average weight of 10 pounds. While I prefer brown eggs, I always
include a few Leghorns for their terrific

laying

rates.

Buff Orpington: This breed has an above average production of large brown eggs.
Their friendly nature and cold weather hardiness makes them an excellent beginner
chicken. If you plan to raise chicks, the Orpington is a good brooder and makes an
excellent mother. They also make good pets and I wouldnt have a flock without one or
two Orpingtons. However, because of their docile nature, they are picked on so they
dont do well with aggressive breeds.
Black Star: The hens are above average layers of large brown eggs and begin laying
around five months. They are a hardy breed and easy to raise. These hybrid chickens
are a cross between Barred Rock hens and Rhode Island Red roosters. The chicks are
easily color sexed, meaning you identify males and females by their color. The males

are black while females have gold plumage on their neck and breast. The Black Star is
another good beginner breed with a calm nature making them good pets.
Ameraucana: Also known as Easter Eggers, these chickens lay eggs in various shades
of blue, blue-green, green and cream. These easy to handle birds lay medium size
eggs, are winter hardy and have average to above average egg production.
Ameracuanas adapt well to confinement or free range and are calm and non-aggressive
making them a good family chicken. Your kids will love collecting the colorful eggs.

FAQs ABOUT BROWN EGGS:

Are Brown Eggs Better than White Eggs?
The color of an egg is not an indicator of quality. When it comes to taste and nutrition,
there is no difference between white and brown eggs. Despite the fact that they're often
more expensive, brown eggs aren't any better for you than white eggs, and vice versa.
Why are brown eggs more expensive?
Many people think that brown eggs must be better than white eggs because they're
more expensive, but that's not the case. What makes brown eggs more expensive is as
simple as size -- the chickens that lay brown eggs are larger than those that lay white
eggs and thus their feed costs more. As a result, the brown eggs are priced higher.
Difference in the shell
Other than the color, there is no difference between the shell of a white egg and a
brown egg. Some people make the assumption that brown egg shells are harder than
white, but that's not the case. What's true is that younger chickens lay eggs with harder
shells. The shells of both color eggs have the same thickness. If you've ever noticed
that an eggshell seems tougher, it's because of the age of the chicken, and not the color
of the egg. Younger chickens tend to lay eggs with harder shells, while older chicken lay
eggs with thinner shells. This is true of both white and brown eggs.
Difference in the yolk
Some people say that brown eggs have a yolk that's more richly colored than white
eggs. The type of feed that chickens eat can vary, so the more corn they eat, the
yellower the yolks. So it's not necessarily the color of the shell that predicts the intense
color of the yolk.
Calories, Fat and Protein
Eggs are a good source of many nutrients. One large egg contains approximately 72
calories, 6 grams of protein and some healthful unsaturated fats. The total fat content of
one large egg is approximately 5 grams. Eggs do contain a lot of cholesterol. The
average large egg contains 186 milligrams of cholesterol, which compares to a single
serving of liver, shrimp or duck meat. For people concerned about blood cholesterol

levels, it is important to know that dietary cholesterol actually has less of an effect on
blood cholesterol levels than do saturated fats and trans fats. No connection has been
found between egg consumption and heart disease in people without diabetes. In
people with diabetes, those who eat an egg every day are slightly more likely to develop
heart disease. To avoid cholesterol, simply discard the yolk and eat only the egg white,
since all of the cholesterol in an egg is contained in the yolk. Other options to limit
cholesterol include using only one yolk with two egg whites or using pourable egg
whites or yolk-free egg substitutes.
Other Nutrients
Eggs are a good source of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin. People who eat
higher levels of these nutrients have a lowered risk of macular degeneration, a vision
problem that affects millions of older Americans. Lutein and zeaxanthin help to prevent
macular degeneration by helping to filter types of light that can cause damage to the
eye. Eggs are also a good source of choline. Choline is an essential nutrient that plays
many important roles in the body, including in brain and memory development, and lipid
transport. Recommended adequate intake levels for adults are 550 milligrams per day
for men and 425 milligrams per day for women. One large egg provides 126 milligrams
of choline.
Pigment Spots
Some consumers avoid brown eggs because they believe brown eggs are more likely
than white eggs to have blood spots. This is, in fact, true. About 25 percent to 30
percent of brown eggs, regardless of brand, typically contain pigmented spots or protein
spots. The spots are not a sign of fertilization and do not actually contain any blood
cells. They are caused when a blood vessel on the yolk surface or on the oviduct wall
ruptures during egg formation. They are safe to eat, although many people prefer to
discard the egg or remove the spot with a knife. While these spots occur in both white
and brown eggs, they are more likely to be caught and discarded during inspections of
white eggs, since the shells are more transparent.

THE AREA,THE PEOPLE AND THEIR FARMING SYSTEMS

Belur Math District is situated on the northern border of Kolkata bordering the State of
West Bengal. The literacy rate is 41.5% and majority of the households belong to the
Below Poverty Line (BPL) category. The district has undulating semi-arid topography
with temperature ranging from 10 to 49 degree celsius. It gets an average rainfall of 772
mm and has very limited irrigation facilities. Major sources of livelihood are agriculture,
livestock and wage-labour. Average land holding of tribal households is about two acres
and rain-fed agriculture with mixed farming, crop-livestock-backyard poultry is practiced
.Maize, chilli, soybean, jowar and cotton are the commonly cultivated crops in all of the
available land with no land left fallow. In addition to crops, livestock and backyard
poultry make major contributions to livelihoods of tribal households.
Most tribal households possess about five goats, eight to ten non descript (Desi) birds,
local cows (one adult and one calf) and a pair of bullocks. Almost all the tribal
households rear backyard indigenous poultry and this activity is the domain of women.
Poultry has a multiple role in the lives of tribal households ranging from economic and
nutritional security to socio-cultural aspects. The average composition of the flock is one
cock, three hens and six to eight chicks. The birds are maintained in a free-range
system where they search for grains and insects during the day and a fistful of grains
like crushed jowar (millets) or maize is offered once or twice a day. Woven bamboo
baskets are used as night shelters for protection against predators. Water is offered in
earthen, wooden or tin containers. Although the Desi poultry has been reared for ages,
losses were found to be high with approximately 40% eggs either infertile or damaged.
Moreover 30 - 35% of chicks are lost due to disease and predation.
Broiler bird commands an elevated position since a year old Broiler bird fetches Rs. 250
to 300 and the eggs are sold at Rs. 4 to 5 depending on season and location. Due to
high demand for Broiler meat and the virtual absence to promote its rearing, the
population of birds has reduced drastically and is on the verge of extinction.

MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOLLOWED

Initially units of 100 Broiler chicks were given to beneficiaries as a livelihood enhancing
tool where the rearer would grow them to the wt of 1 kg in 6 months and make sales
thereafter. To house these birds a shed was constructed using stones, corrugated
sheets and tiles costing around Rs 12 - 15,000. The finance for this was linked to
various government schemes like SGSY (Swaranjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana), ITDP
(Integrated Tribal Development Project) etc facilitated by MPRLP. It was soon realized
that semi scavenging system with supplementary feeding would be more appropriate

and profitable as Feed Conversion Ratio of this bird is high even under intensive
system.
Once the Broiler established itself in the new area, a number of Tribal farmers took up
this activity and began rearing smaller flocks (even a pair) of Broiler as they were
rearing Desi birds. They have adopted traditional free range scavenging system since
the bird thrives outdoors and feed costs are also reduced when they are allowed to
scavenge.

COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS

STAKEHOLDERS AND THEIR ROLES

Key focus of the West Bengal Rural Livelihood Project (MPRLP), Govt. of West Bengal
is on enhancing the livelihoods of rural poor in eight of the most disadvantage districts in
the state through regeneration of natural resources and capacity building of local
communities, while aiming at implementation through the Gram Sabha. As it also
facilitates the financial assistance/ convergence from the government schemes, it has
provided financial support to this project.
BAIF (BAIF Development Research Foundation), is providing the technical support to
the project through its associate organization namely Society for Promotion of
Ecofriendly Sustainable Development (SPESD) a State level NGO. SPESD is
implementing agency of the project at the field level through its Project Facilitation
Team (PFT).
SPESD has established PFTs at village cluster level at the above locations that work
closely with the resource poor families to augment their income, improve their 8 quality
of life and to strengthen village level bodies called Gram Sabha by ensuring that
appropriate decisions are taken in the interest of the resource poor families. The Gram
Sabha, along with the PFTs, identifies needy families that require provision of financial
support for undertaking livelihood activities related to agriculture, livestock and microenterprises. Livestock rearing being an important source of income for the tribal
families, improving their productivity is a critical area addressed by the PFT with the
technical know-how provided by SPESD as the Resource Organisation. On an average
one PFT covers about 15 villages. At village level a animal health worker, trained by the
Department of Veterinary services in basic skills required for preventive, curative health
and improved management practices, functions. SPESD provides advanced training to
fine tune these skills for field level service. These animal health workers are called
Livestock Service Provider (LSP) or Gopals (village health workers) and are part of the
PFT. They are self employed and provide services to all the livestock, including goat
and poultry.

Organizational Help:

West Bengal Rural Livelihood Project (MPRLP)

BAIF (BAIF Development Research Foundation)
Society for Promotion of Ecofriendly Sustainable Development (SPESD)
Project Facilitation Team (PFT)
Livestock Service Provider (LSP)

SOLAR POULTRY INCUBATOR: AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH

TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE BROILER POULTRY FARMING
After a period of 19-21 days, hatching of eggs started in the incubators and chicks have
started coming out of egg. It was an amazing experience for the GVT team as its dream
of establishing small scale village level hatchery has come true while the beneficiary
farmers were happy to see the chicks as their 21 day long wait and curiosity of eggs
hatching got over. Other poultry farmers in the cluster have already contacted these
four farmers to book their requirement of chicks from their next batch of locally
produced chicks.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
12V/40 watt power provided from solar photovoltaic module.
Humidity controlled manually between 65% to 75%.
Automatic temperature regulation at 36 38 degree Celsius.
Length-24inch, Width-15 inch, Height-15inch, Weight 10 Kg.

40 chicken or 80 Quail or 14 Goose eggs can be hatched per incubation cycle of

18-22 days period.
Manual egg turning in 4 hour intervals.
2 watt LED lights inside the box to view eggs.

SALIENT FEATURES
100% silent & pollution free, Portable.
Provides unhindered incubation through solar power.

Simple operation & disinfection method.

SWOT ANALYSIS
STRENGTH

Her self confidence and self interest paved the way to her success.

Innovative ideas help in her growth.

Her family support and practical management skills.

Innovative marketing strategy

WEAKNESS

Success in her project remains uncertain.

Financial constraint.

Competitors
OPPORTUNITES

Availability of market.

Opportunities to expand further

Demand for the birds meat and eggs

THREATS

Risk of drought.

Threat of epidemic diseases.

Drastic climatic changes.

Growth of other competitors.

Threat to new entrants.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://www.nif.org.in/bd/douknow
http://www.rinovations.org/Innovations/data-bank
http://www.innovationsofindia.com/list_of_innovations/elecsha.htm
http://www.indianmba.com/Faculty_Column/FC995/fc995.html
http://www.rajdst.gov.in/entrepreneurship_development_divnew.htm
http://rural.nic.in/sites/downloads/success-stories/Poultry_Revoltn.pdf