SATYANARAYANA REDDY, P.V.V(MAJOR)Sudhakara Reddy, PRAGHU RAM, PRAVI, ASUSMITHA, T2018-10-262018-10-262009-02http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810082200THESESABSTRACT : The three districts viz., Krishna, East Godavari and West Godavari of Andhra Pradesh have been selected for this study, as there are established emu farms in these three districts. A total of 65 farms spread over these three districts have been surveyed using a pre-tested questionnaire specially formulated for this purpose. The list of farmers rearing emu birds in the selected districts was prepared and stratified into two groups i.e. Group I (Farms upto 100 emu birds) and Group II (farms with 100-200 emu birds). From the groups so stratified 50 farms from Group I and 15 farms from Group II were randomly selected in probability proportion to their number in each size group. The sample of the study stood at 65. The collected data were tabulated and the cost structure of emu farming i.e. establishment and maintenance costs were calculated. The methods of computation included costs of human labour, feeds, medicines, sand, electricity, interest on working capital, veterinary services, depreciation, interest on fixed capital, rental value of owned land and gross returns. The data collected were subjected to conventional analysis and discounted cash flow techniques viz. net present worth (NPW), benefit-cost ratio (BCratio) and internal rate of return (IRR). The size of the family ranged from 4.0 members in group II and 4.16 members in group I with an overall average of 4.12 members. In both the groups the number of female adults was more than the male adults. About 74% farmers in group I and 93.33% in group II had college education. Those who had secondary education stood at 20% in group I and 6.66% in group II. There were no illiterates running emu farms. In group I,emu farming was the main occupation,for only 8% of farmers. The percentage of farmers in business stood at 72% , while those in service was 20%. In group II, emu farming was the main occupation for 33.33% farmers and for remaining 66.66% farmers business was main occupation. In group I , the number of birds in growing phase was 835 and 1671 in laying phase. In group II, the number of birds in growing phase was 706 while those in laying phase stood at 1414. The value of farm assets was Rs. 12,86,503 in group I and Rs. 14,89,592 in group II. Land value accounted for 27.2% and 26.97% in group I and group II, respectively. All the selected farmers of group I and group II followed artificial brooding. Brooding in small groups was preferred by 94% in group I and 100% in group II. Community brooding was preferred by very negligible number of farmers. Linear metallic feeders were preferred by 100% of farmers of group II and by 82% of group I farmers opted for these feeders. The preference for circular metallic feeders was more driven by the cost factor. Waterers were of circular metallic type on almost all farms. All the selected farmers of both the groups strictly followed the vaccination schedules as recommended. Semiintensive system of housing was the common system of housing followed in the selected area. All the farmers without exception provided balanced ration using commercial ration. Vaccination and deworming schedules were scrupulously followed by all the farmers. About 64% of emu farmers of group I recorded egg laying from 18 months of age while in group II farms, it was 73.33%. On the whole the commencement of egg laying was within 18-24 months, which is normally found in emu farms. The parameters like per cent fertility, hatchability on fertile eggs transfered and hatchability on total eggs set were relatively better for group II farms over group I farms. The total costs incurred by selected farmers for the two years of pre-laying period per unit of 50 pairs was Rs. 28,14,608, Rs 29,25,708 and Rs. 28,40,245 for group I, group II and pooled farms. The total working costs for the corresponding groups were Rs. 24,87,303 (88.37%), Rs. 25,41,224 (86.85%) and Rs. 24,99,744 (88.01%), respectively. Of the total costs, feed constituted the highest cost for both the groups. During laying stage the total cost for the I , II and III year was Rs. 13,645,79, Rs. 13,70,266 and Rs. 13,30,398 respectively in group I. In all the three years, feed was the highest cost factor Rs. 7,32,190, Rs. 7,32,690 and Rs. 7,34,415 for the corresponding years. The trend that was noticed in group I with regard to components of costs was more or less found in group II emu farms also. In pooled farms the total costs during I, II and III year of laying period were Rs. 13,74,904, Rs. 13,82,562 and Rs. 13,99,901 respectively. The egg production that was obtained by group I farmers was 640, 900 and 1100 per unit of 50 pairs during I , II and III year , respectively. In group II, the egg production for the corresponding years was 680, 925 and 1200, respectively. The cost of production per egg was Rs. 2132, Rs. 2284 and Rs. 1255 for group I and Rs. 2073, Rs. 1539 and Rs. 1221 for group II during I, II and III year, respectively. Gross income was Rs. 11,48,625, Rs. 16,11,150, Rs. 19,71,980 for group I farmers for the three years and in respect of group II farmers it was Rs. 12,20,787, Rs. 16,56,278 and Rs. 21,48,991 respectively.Gross income of group II was found to be more because group II farms had 100 to200 birds, hence maintenance costs were less. Net income was negative during first year for group I farmers as it stood at Rs. -2,15,954 while in second and third year the net income obtained was Rs. 2,40,884 Rs. 5,91,582 respectively. As in group I, in group II also net income was negative with Rs. -1,88,547 while it was positive in next 2 years, Rs. 2,32,714 and Rs. 6,84,061 respectively. The returns per rupee of investment were 0.84 in the I year Rs. 1.18 and Rs. 1.43 for the II and III year in respect of group I farms. The returns per rupee of investment was Rs. 0.87 Rs. 1.16 and Rs. 1.47 for first, second and third years in respect of group II farms. Net Present Worth (NPW) was found to be Rs. 28,03,008.72 at 12% discount rate Rs. 19,02,102.92 at 15%, Rs. 86,60,808.99 at 20% and Rs. 1,99,660.93 at 25% discount rates for group I. For group II the NPW was Rs. 75,21,324.95, Rs. 53,80,006.08, Rs. 29,84,142.80 and Rs. 14,91,837.30 at 12, 15, 20, 25% discount rates, respectively. IRR was estimated to be 27.01 % in group I farms and 34.13% for group II farms. As far as emu birds are concerned there are no organized markets as such. Farmers approach the owners of the already established farms in their area for the purchase of eggs or chicks. As the enterprise is in its infancy, the problems identified in the study area were lack of credit from the bank, lack of processing units for oil, skin, feathers etc. unwareness among the consumers about emu meat and lack of technical knowledge about slaughtering, storage of emu meat and by products.ennullThesis