Poultry farming is considered a prosperous economic activity. However, rearing quails commercially has only recently come to the attention of producers and entrepreneurs.
The business is relatively easy and bears fruit in a short period. One can start with a small amount of capital and only a few workers, the Persian daily Forsat-e Emrooz reported.
Given the growing popularity of quail meat and eggs in the domestic market due to their high nutritional value and their favorable export conditions, business owners in the field are optimistic that propitious days are to come.
Quails can be marketed at the early age of five weeks, as they mature and start laying eggs at the age of six to seven weeks, have a high rate of egg laying (280 eggs per year), and their meat is tastier than chicken and has a lower fat content.
“Many people have started quail farming in the past few years and have succeeded in creating a large number of jobs. This scope of activity requires support and proper management on the part of the government. There are obstacles to production and we need good control to deal with these issues,” says Ali Lashani, a seasoned businessman in the field.
According to Lashani, the main problem in the business is lack of liquidity and capital.
“Furthermore, production costs are very high and we need the banking system to support us,” he said.
Lashani said providing poultry feed constitutes the bulk of expenses.
“Over the past few years and due to the western economic sanctions imposed on the country, producers faced a lot of problem in providing feed and many incurred losses. Now, after the removal of the sanctions, things are getting back to normal, but we still need government support to be able to elevate the quality of our products and increase production.”
Lashani said one very beneficial aspect of this business is that it creates local jobs in the suburbs, where farms are usually located, hence stemming the flow of migrants to metropolises.
“Bright days await the industry, provided the business is categorized under agricultural and production projects and it is granted the support it deserves,” he said.
According to Abolfazl Hanzeinejad, CEO of Parand Industrial Complex that produces quails, pheasants and partridges, a minimum of 400 to 500-square-meter plot of land and 800 million to 1 billion rials ($23,000 to $29,000 at market exchange rate) are needed to start a business.
“At present, production and the market are thriving. Consumption of quail meat and eggs in the country and the region is increasing by the year. Our export destinations are the Arab countries, Iraq, Caucasus and Central Asia,” he says.
Hanzeinejad said the reason why many people have invested in the area is that not only is the business very lucrative, but it is also much easier than breeding chicken.
“Advertising the product and introducing its nutritional value can significantly boost the business,” he said.
