[Watch] Odisha Woman Scripts Success In Rabbit Farming; Shows The Way For Others

Kendrapada: A woman of Kendrapada district has scripted success in rabbit farming which has earned her a unique identity and livelihood, despite a lean market scope for rabbit meat in Odisha. Her initiative has set an example for others, showing the way that the rabbit farming could be a viable option of decent livelihood.

Meet Prabhasini Behera, a resident of Mirapatana who has adopted modern method for rearing rabbits. She initially started the farming with only 70 rabbits of different breeds in 10 enclosures on a 400 square-ft land. Taking help of experts, she is trying to push her farming ahead.

Now, the number of rabbits in her farm has increased to 200. However, marketing for the rabbit meat in the locality is a problem, she lamented, pointing out that the demand for its meat is high in the states like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, for both consumption and research purposes.

“I started the farming keeping in view the high price factor of the rabbit meat. Its price is comparatively higher than other meats available in the market. But later I realised that the rabbit meat is not high in demand in Odisha,” she observed, adding that she has taken the other way of marketing the rabbits.

She has signed an agreement with a Khurda-based agro tech company to sell her rabbits. The company is said to be exporting its meat outside.

However, Prabhasini sees a vast scope of creating livelihood for rural women through the rabbit rearing if it is financially supported and encouraged by the government. “There is a need for creating a scope of exporting its meat. A good marketing scope will encourage more women in the state to take up this farming so that they can strengthen their economy.

Significantly, the rabbit rearing is gradually catching up in some parts of the state.