Within the small however full of life city of Bahadurgarh, situated simply 20 km southwest of Patiala metropolis in Punjab, two teenage sisters, Mannat and Eknoor Mehmi, have turned a household necessity right into a thriving enterprise. India Goat Milk Farm, which started simply 4 years in the past, was born out of a private well being disaster when Mannat was identified with jaundice. A well-meaning elder instructed that goat milk may assist in her restoration, main their father, Harbhajan Singh, to take a position Rs 20,000 in a single goat.
Recalling the preliminary days, Mannat says, “We have been fairly younger and had all the time needed a pet canine or a cat, so we have been simply very enthusiastic about having a goat at the least.” As soon as the primary goat gave start to a feminine child and the new child was fed its first milk, the household started incorporating it into their day by day weight loss program. “After we began utilizing the milk in our home each day, we noticed nice outcomes,” she provides. “We didn’t get sick as usually and recovered rapidly if we did.”
The dietary energy of goat milk
In line with a evaluation within the Nationwide Library of Medication, the advantages of goat milk embody “immunomodulatory results, allergy administration, anti‐inflammatory, and antioxidant results, in addition to antimicrobial and anticancer properties.”
Goat milk is commonly beneficial for individuals affected by each jaundice and dengue due to its wealthy nutrient profile and simple digestibility. It comprises proteins, nutritional vitamins, and minerals that help total well being and restoration.
Dr Meenakshi Bhatt, a scientific dietician, means that whereas goat milk is usually good for the liver and may also help individuals get well quicker, it’s best consumed when diluted with water. Goat milk has excessive protein content material, and substantial fats in it which could trigger abdomen points for people who find themselves not used to thicker and creamier milks.
In comparison with cow and sheep milk, goat milk presents a better focus of selenium which might additionally support within the restoration course of. “Our dad and mom used to offer us pediasure to assist construct immunity, however after beginning to drink goat milk, we stopped that additionally,” says Mannat.
Reworking kindness into commerce
Phrase quickly unfold, and folks started approaching them for goat milk. “Anyone who had heard about our goats got here to purchase the milk, and initially, we simply gave it away without cost to lots of people,” says Mannat.
However after doing lots of analysis and recognising the rising demand for goat milk, they determined, “Since we already had a small setup, why not flip it right into a enterprise that had a lot potential?” Their entrepreneurial journey took a decisive flip throughout the COVID-19 lockdown, once they determined to make use of their 600 yards of idle land to arrange a farm.
They’d their first construction made out of bamboo, however it proved inefficient throughout winters. “Goats keep wholesome if the minimal temperature of their shed is rarely lower than 25 levels Celsius and by no means greater than 35 levels. As a result of we didn’t know that, we had an sadly excessive mortality fee within the first 12 months. However we’ve got learnt and grown with the enterprise,” Mannat says. Studying from this expertise, they constructed a extra sturdy concrete construction that offered a secure setting for the animals.
The Saanen goat benefit
As they gained expertise, the sisters needed to specialise their farm. As a substitute of investing in cross-breed goats, they opted for Saanen goats from Switzerland, recognized globally for his or her excessive milk manufacturing. “We began with 5 Saanen goats, that are fairly uncommon to search out in India; now we’ve got round 60 of these, together with a couple of cross-breeds and a few Alpine goats.”
One key issue behind their success is the pricing of their merchandise. They promote goat milk at Rs 400 per litre, considerably decrease than the costs in bigger cities — Rs 500 in Chandigarh, Rs 600 in Bengaluru, and a whooping Rs 900 in Pune. This value level has attracted a loyal buyer base, significantly throughout the dengue season when demand peaks.
Mannat and Eknoor’s hands-on strategy to farming, balanced with their educational duties, has garnered widespread and nicely deserved recognition of their group. They have been the winner of the primary Future Tycoons Startup Problem in 2022, together with a prize of Rs 51,000. “Outdoors the DC workplace, there’s a wall of fame devoted to individuals doing nice work in our group, and our image is up on that wall,” Mannat beams.
Their mom, Ravindar Kaur Mehmi, is immensely pleased with her daughters. “I’m comfortable that my daughters have managed to do that with none hesitation and with a lot confidence. It’s good that they’ve occupied themselves and are investing in an curiosity as a substitute of simply being on the telephones. And at this age, they’re additionally studying the worth of cash,” she shares.
Coaching and knowledge-sharing are vital features of their enterprise mannequin. “Lots of people bought to learn about us and needed to study goat farming, so we’ve got a two-day coaching programme the place we educate individuals methods to run it,” Mannat explains. They focus not simply on farming strategies but additionally on the enterprise facet of goat farming, protecting manufacturing, hygiene upkeep, and advertising methods. “A number of ladies and kids come, particularly ladies our personal age who noticed what we did and have been impressed,” Mannat provides.
Wanting forward, the sisters aspire to broaden their operations. They intention to include expertise to streamline their enterprise, making it extra organised and environment friendly. “We need to make it technology-based,” says Mannat.
Their advertising technique includes partaking with native prospects via social media, door-to-door gross sales, and collaboration with native medical doctors who can vouch for the well being advantages of goat milk.
“We converse to medical doctors as a result of they already know the advantages and may also help individuals make extra knowledgeable selections,” Mannat explains. Additionally they produce goat milk ghee and paneer, utilizing social media as a major instrument for promotion.
Dedication to natural practices
Sustainability can be a key focus for them. “We develop specialised vegetation for our goats on our farm, like moringa, and feed them,” Eknoor explains. They be certain that all feed is grown organically, with out the usage of fertilisers. “We use the goat droppings as fertiliser as a result of it has excessive nitrogen content material, and also you want much less of it,” Mannat states. Their waste administration system permits them to gather the droppings in a method that retains them pure and uncontaminated.
In rural India, goat milk has traditionally been a staple as a result of animals’ low useful resource necessities in comparison with cows. Goats are simpler to lift, making them a perfect dairy possibility for small farmers and herders.
Mannat and Eknoor’s enterprise not solely fulfils a private want but additionally contributes to the native financial system and promotes more healthy dietary selections. The entire household is supportive of their enterprise, contributing to numerous duties. “All people is concerned by some means,” Mannat notes.
Edited by Arunava Banerjee; All pictures courtesy Mannat and Eknoor Mehmi
