Chibait Papiah is a poultry farmer from Sohkymphor village in the East Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya. He is a father of a two year old daughter and used to previously work at Airtel. He left the job to start work as a daily wage earner which he continues to do so till date.
Earlier this year, he registered as a partner at the DPMU in Khliehriat and now he has started a poultry business after completing a two month training programme on poultry farming at RRTC in Umsning, Ri Bhoi District. Bah Chibait had a very difficult time before he started the business; he would work from dusk to dawn in the fields and there was no extra income to keep aside for a rainy day; they had to live from hand to mouth. Now he spends his time taking care of the poultry and is making a good profit.
Through the training programme, he has received a wide range of knowledge which he has used in his business from purchasing chicks from the veterinary office in Ri Bhoi District to rearing them.
While registering himself with the DPMU, he had the expectation of receiving loans and although he is yet to receive the loans which are being processed, he has started the business with his own money. The loan he hopes will help with his expansion plans. He has invested INR 1, 00, 000 for starting the business spending INR 30, 000 for the chicks, INR 2,000 for the rented house and INR 60, 000 for fodder and INR 8,000 on miscellaneous costs. He takes care of the entire business himself and does not hire any help. He takes responsibility right from feeding the chicks and the hens, cleaning the farm, medicating the sick.
Bah Chibait has been facing one recurrent problem which is with weather. With Sohkymphor being relatively cold, the chicks take time to adapt to the weather and many die along the way. To combat this, he has installed lights in the farm to keep the chicks warm but with electricity being inconsistent and lights going off, they are left in the cold. Some of the hens (layers) are however in the process of laying eggs.
The business is developing and growing day by day but he still needs help with expansion especially in terms of acquiring loans. He goes to the DPMU for any help and support and they in turn direct him to the concerned governmental departments.