A visible shift is underway among technically trained youth in Bihar, who are increasingly pivoting toward animal husbandry and rural entrepreneurship over elusive corporate openings. Govind Kumar, a resident of the Garhara rail yard area in Begusarai district, exemplifies this trend. After finishing his technical diploma from a private institution and facing disappointment in the job market, he returned to his village to establish a specialized poultry farm that now generates steady income across regular operational cycles.
The Transition from District Cricket to Technical Training
Govind's early ambition centered entirely on sports, as he harbored dreams of pursuing cricket seriously. To train under structured coaching, he moved to Kolkata and underwent rigorous preparation, eventually competing at the district level before deciding to step away from the sport. Following this chapter, he redirected his attention to formal vocational studies, enrolling in and graduating from a private Industrial Training Institute in Begusarai. With his diploma completed, he traveled to Siliguri in search of stable employment.
Terrace-Based Beginning with Kadaknath and Sonali Birds
While the job hunt in Siliguri yielded no formal offer, the stay exposed Govind to the commercial potential of specialized poultry farming. Determined to build his own venture, he returned home in 2020 and launched operations on an extremely modest budget. Investing just Rs 2,000, he purchased 20 Kadaknath and 20 Sonali chicks and set up a makeshift rearing unit right on his residential terrace, testing the waters without taking on heavy debt.
Feed Management, Production Cycles, and Financial Returns
Today, Govind manages the farm full-time alongside his mother, who assists in running daily operations. The farm relies on a strategic feeding routine that pairs standard maize feed with green fodder. Feeding green fodder improves the birds' immunity and overall physical conditioning, which directly translates into premium pricing when brought to commercial buyers.
The enterprise operates on a 5-month rearing cycle, producing between 3,000 and 5,000 Sonali and Kadaknath birds per batch. Total operational expenditure per batch, including feed and upkeep, comes to roughly Rs 1.5 lakh, while gross market realization reaches around Rs 4 lakh. During intervals when extra working capital is required to support operations, Govind's mother arranges timely credit through the JEEViKA network to keep the farm running smoothly.
