3 weeks ago
Punjab Couple's Rs 10,000 Poultry Venture Grows Into 500-Farmer Network
Once, a mum and dad in India had a very sad time.
Their baby girl got very sick, and even though they sold their cows to pay the hospital, the baby passed away.
They were left with almost no money.
Instead of giving up, they used their last bit of savings to buy 100 baby chickens.
Day by day, they took good care of the chickens and learned how to raise them.
After six years, their little chicken farm grew huge, with thousands of birds.
Now they sell chicks and eggs to about 500 other farmers and teach them how to run their own farms.
They give advice to anyone starting out and offer to buy the birds back to reduce risk.
They show that even when things are hard, working hard can help you build something amazing.
Sarabjeet Kaur and Sandeep Singh started their poultry business with Rs 10,000 after their two-month-old daughter died and they were forced to sell their three buffaloes to pay for her treatment.
Six years on, their Grewal Desi Poultry Farm in their native village keeps between 5,000 and 10,000 desi birds at any time.
The couple supplies an average of 500-700 chicks and birds daily (15,000-21,000 monthly) to a network of around 500 farmers across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
They sell desi organic eggs and chicken pickle, with chicks priced from Rs 35 to Rs 150 and birds up to Rs 500 each, earning a six-figure monthly income after costs of about 60 per cent of revenue.
The couple rear desi breeds including Rhode Island Red (RIR) and Astro Black, offer buy-back arrangements and technical guidance, and promote poultry farming as an alternative to low-paying private jobs.
- Who
- Sarabjeet Kaur and Sandeep Singh, a married couple in their mid-40s from Punjab, India
- What
- Built Grewal Desi Poultry Farm, a 5,000-10,000-bird desi poultry enterprise with a network of around 500 farmers, starting with only Rs 10,000
- Where
- Their native village in Punjab, India; the farm supplies farmers in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir
- When
- Started six years ago, after the couple lost their two-month-old daughter
- Why
- To rebuild their lives after their daughter's death left them devastated, financially broke and without their buffalo-based livelihood
Key facts
- Farm name
- Grewal Desi Poultry Farm
- Initial capital
- Rs 10,000
- Starting stock
- 100 desi chicks
- Current flock
- 5,000-10,000 birds
- Farmer network
- Around 500 farmers
- Monthly supply
- 15,000-21,000 chicks and birds
- Pricing
- Chicks Rs 35-Rs 150; birds up to Rs 500 each
- Breeds
- Rhode Island Red (RIR), Astro Black
Quotes
Sarabjeet Kaur
Founder of Grewal Desi Poultry Farm, former teacher
“We had almost nothing left. I used to save small amounts little by little from whatever was left after purchasing one thing or another and kept it aside. I somehow managed to collect Rs 10,000. With that amount, we could not buy a buffalo, which costs lakhs. I told my husband that we should bring some chicks instead.”
indianexpress.com
“We have built a network of around 500 farmers, providing them chicks and birds along with mandatory technical guidance on feed, management, disease prevention and farm operations. We also visit farmers’ units and offer buy-back arrangements, reducing the risk for those starting poultry business.”
indianexpress.com









