Business with desi cow dung, now giving employment to many

Desi cow dung: Usually the milk of the indigenous cow is considered the only source of income and when the cow stops giving milk, many leave them in the open. In such a situation, the unique initiative of Gujarat’s Jignesh Patel and wife Rinkal Patel can prove to be very beneficial in the conservation of cows. Apart from milk of desi cow, he is telling how to earn money from its dung. Leaving engineering, Jignesh is making and selling many products from cow dung. Now his business has become very popular. Dipika Joshi, correspondent of Kisan of India spoke to him.

Why did you leave engineering and join cow rearing?

Jignesh Patel says that in the profession of computer engineer, one has to just sit at the computer from morning till evening. Nothing new gets to do. So to do something different and new, joined cow rearing and started desi cows dairy farm. Initially there were only 5 indigenous cows, but now there are around 45 Gir and Kankrej breeds. Gir and Kankrej are the famous indigenous breed of cows of Gujarat.

What do you make?

In the beginning, make candles and diyas from cow dung, but they cannot be used daily. Then we started thinking in this direction and started making many more products.

Jignesh says that from cow dung, he makes many things used in the house like clock, puja thali, incense sticks, mirror, children’s toys, hair oil, painting etc. The cow dung needed to make these products should be dry and hard. In such a situation, while feeding fodder to the cow, care has to be taken that do not feed anything that makes the dung wet and spread. The cow dung should be hard. To make the product, chhana along with cow dung is used.

What do you feed to a desi cow in fodder?

Jignesh says that he feeds green and dry barley and jowar to the cows. For the supply of protein, the cows are given the powder of all the pulses. Along with this, Shatavari and Ashwagandha are also given. He also sells the milk of indigenous cows in many areas of Ahmedabad for Rs 120 per litre.

How to sell products made from indigenous cow livestock?

For the sale of goods, Jignesh Patel keeps in touch with a shop selling handmade items. The products are sold. Apart from this, people also come to buy products on their own. 

Created employment opportunities

Jignesh is not only doing cow protection work through his business, but is also helping women to become self-reliant. 50-60 women are associated with them, who make products from home. This initiative of Jignesh Patel is certainly commendable.