Youth leaves white collar job for dairy farming

Kota: Soon after completion of education, all prefer to go to cites for employment and due to this the farming sector is taking a hit and this is a an issue haunting rural areas.  But Prathish Shetty, a resident of Barali near Mandarti is different from others. After completing a diploma in engineering and having the opportunity to earn in thousands by going to city, the 29 year-old youth chose to let go of than opportunity and instead took up dairy farming as his profession and has fairly succeeded in it.

An example for the youth

Prathish is the second child of the three children of Raghav Shetty, a local resident. As both of his siblings are doctors, there was a fear that cultivation at home would become an orphan. After the completion of his diploma he got several job opportunities, but he was solely interested in farming. His love for animals inspired him to indulge in dairy farming at his hometown itself.

Modern method of dairy farming

The reason behind Prathish’s success in dairy farming is thanks to the implementation of modern methods. Thinking that more profit could be generated by giving less food and more of other nutritious food for milk production, he has grown grass in an area of half-an-acre. He uses machines to gather milk and grass. He uses pressure pump to wash the cows and has laid mat on the floor of the barn to prevent the cows from be infected by hoof disease. Necessary injections are given periodically. He maintains the barn clean. Higher importance is given to breeds and he attempts to get calves belonging to good breeds. Once or twice in a week, the animals are checked by a veterinarian.

Work as a labourer

Without any ego as an owner of a dairy, he works along with his workers from morning to evening taking care of the cows. The dairy has Holstein Friesians and Jersey breed cows. His family has also cooperated with him. Hence his business is progressing towards success. The maintenance of the cows and the barn, collection of milk and other work is done using modern methods.

Yearning for a big achievement

Presently, this business is not giving a huge profit. But what has been achieved so far very small. In the future, I want to have a successful business with hundred s of cows. In this way I want to inspire the youth, says Prathish, giving words to his wish.

Monthly income of Rs 1.20 lakh

Four years back he started his small dairy business with 4 cows; however he currently has 17 cows, 14 pregnant cows and more than 15 calves. Daily 150-170 liters of milk is collected here presently. The maintenance cost of the animals is around Rs 70-80,000 and the income is about Rs 1 lakh to 1.20 lakh. With the increase in the number of animas, more profit can be achieved, he feels.

Self-satisfaction is important

After completion of diploma in ENC, I had job opportunities at enough prestigious companies. But I did not the occupational environment there. The thought that there is no one to look after the farm and home back in the home town, kept haunting me. Therefore, I returned back to home and started dairy farming. I have satisfaction regarding my job. The pleasure I get while being with the cows cannot be achieved anywhere else. As the business develops, there is opportunity ti earn more profits than a white collar job,” said Prathish, youth indulged in dairy farming

Award from DK Milk Union

DK Milk Producers Co-operative Union has presented a Best Performance Award to his dairy for good management of grazing grass. Along with this, he has received appreciation locally for good management of the cows.

Article by Rajesh Ganiga Achady translated into English by Aaron Dmello