Ostrich farming opens the way to get rich

Although completely new to the people, but realizing the prospect of a potential economic model suitable for local conditions, Phung Nguyen commune, Lam Thao district has pioneered the implementation of the "Commercial Ostrich Breeding" Project with initial positive results, contributing to sustainable poverty reduction in the locality.

Ostriches thrive in a clean, airy environment.

From the effective model

Mr. Bui Quoc Phong's ostrich farm - area 6 is about ^2,000m2 wide, solidly built, with nearly a hundred adult ostriches, each weighing several dozen kilograms, walking around while spreading their wings like real dancers. Occasionally, they make calls to the flock, making the farm space bustling. To our surprise, Mr. Bui Quoc Phong smiled and said that although they are giant birds, ostriches are gentle, just meeting a stranger or hearing a small noise can make the whole flock stir.

Through research, it is known that with the desire to develop the economy, have a stable source of income without having to leave his hometown, Mr. Phong and his wife discussed finding a new direction. Thinking is doing, the couple searched for documents, then traveled to ostrich farms in Ba Vi district, Hanoi to learn from experience, carefully researched food sources, disease prevention, care, how to build cages and buy breeds. In 2019, Mr. Bui Quoc Phong's family tried to raise 20 ostriches, up to now his family has 70 ostriches, at times up to hundreds of ostriches.

Mr. Phong said: Raising ostriches is quite easy, the barn must be large enough for the ostriches to have a running path, to practice their flexible legs; in the first 4 months of care, they must be given full medicine; on average, each ostrich gains about 10 kg per month, and is raised for 10 months before being sold. Over the years, I have seen that the market for commercial ostriches is quite stable. In 2023, my family sold about 75-80 thousand VND/kg of live weight. Each adult ostrich when sold, after deducting costs, made a profit of about 1.7 million VND/ostrich.

Just like Mr. Bui Quoc Phong's family, Mr. Tran Van Linh's family in Dai Dinh area wanted to get rich right in their hometown, so since 2019, Mr. Linh has boldly invested in barns to raise ostriches. While showing us around the farm, Mr. Linh excitedly said: "Remembering the first day I started raising ostriches, I did ideological work to get my wife and children to support and agree to invest in buying breeding ostriches, but when I brought them home, many neighbors came to see, some shook their heads because "they only saw it on TV", did not know how effective it was, how to raise it? Therefore, I was even more determined to raise them successfully".

During the raising process, Mr. Linh continued to learn about experience and care techniques on radio, newspapers, and documents. At times, he returned to the farm in Ba Vi to continue learning about care, disease prevention and treatment techniques... for ostriches. Thanks to diligent care according to the correct process, Mr. Linh's family's ostriches grew quite well and were disease-free. His family's ostrich flock has grown to 100 ostriches/year. It is expected that they will be commercially sold in November 2024.

According to Mr. Linh's experience, because they are domesticated wild animals, baby ostriches are quite shy and do not like noise. In addition to the large initial investment, the cost of raising ostriches is not as expensive as other livestock because the main food is vegetables, grass, corn and a little synthetic bran... Raising them does not take much effort because in fact, Mr. Linh spends about 5-6 hours a day taking care of the ostriches and still does some other work.

On the other hand, ostriches have good resistance, can withstand heat and cold and rarely get sick. They only need clean coops and proper medication during the early growth period. If cared for properly and have good nutrition, ostriches can be sold after 10 months of raising with an average weight of over or under 1 quintal/bird.

Checking the breeding stock before handing over to households implementing the project "Commercial ostrich farming".

Promising direction

Ostriches live mainly in Africa, with the scientific name Struthio camelus, commonly known as camel birds because when looking at ostriches, people see that they look like camels with wings. An adult ostrich weighs about 100kg. Ostriches' wings are small so they cannot fly, their legs are long with 2 claws to help them grip the ground when running. Because ostriches have no teeth and are herbivores, they often bury their heads in the sand to find small pebbles, swallow them into their stomachs to help them crush grass and food... Their meat is similar to beef, very delicious and nutritious. Because of its high economic value, many families have chosen ostriches as a target to raise for economic development.

With the initial success of the two ostrich farming models, it has created a driving force for Phung Nguyen commune to implement the "Commercial Ostrich Farming" Project invested by the District People's Committee with the goal of building a model to support production development, contributing to creating more jobs for the poor, increasing income for farmers...

Specifically, starting from the second quarter of this year, the Project has supported 102 ostrich chicks for 5 households (2 poor households, 2 near-poor households, 1 good business household) living in the areas: Dai Dinh, Area 6. The households raise ostriches in a managed captivity method. Of which, 4 households are eligible for support from the program; 1 good economic household voluntarily participates and is supported with experience, techniques...

Comrade Cao Ba Kiem - Vice Chairman of Phung Nguyen Commune People's Committee said: The Commune People's Committee presides over the selection of qualified breeding suppliers to transfer to the Community Production Group to implement the project "Commercial Ostrich Breeding". Households participating in the project are allowed to visit and learn from experience; receive training in breeding techniques; each household must ensure labor, barns, and have enough area to grow vegetables and grass to feed the ostriches. According to the expected output and profit when the project ends, the breeding animals after the care process will mature enough to be released around the end of 2024.

Mr. Tran Van Linh - Dai Dinh area takes care of ostriches.

Mr. Tran Van Linh - Dai Dinh area, Head of the Community Production Group will contact the output, providing the production and processing facilities with the agreed price between the parties with the committed contract. The expected profit of each household is about 54 million VND/household/8 months, on average each household will earn 6.7 million/month. From the second year onwards, households will use the profits they have earned and the experience they have been guided to replicate the model, creating an additional income of about 30-40 million VND/year compared to the previous year. The aim is to replicate it widely in neighboring areas and other households in the commune to increase income for poor and near-poor households, striving to escape poverty sustainably throughout the area.

Changing the way of thinking, acting, developing the economy, and sustainably reducing poverty from local potential and advantages in accordance with market demand is a promising direction and an inevitable trend of modern agriculture. The development of ostrich farming in Phung Nguyen has initially created a breakthrough in diversifying livelihoods in accordance with local strengths, contributing to the successful implementation of the policy of developing sub-urban commodity agricultural production in the period of 2020-2025 of Resolution 04 of the Lam Thao District Party Committee, with the goal of exploiting and effectively using agricultural land funds associated with changing farmers' awareness, promoting the role of the subject in developing sub-urban commodity agricultural production. This is also one of the factors for the successful implementation of the project of diversifying livelihoods and developing a poverty reduction model of the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction in Lam Thao district.

Anh Tho

Source: https://baophutho.vn/nuoi-da-dieu-mo-huong-lam-giau-217359.htm