Many people usually recoil at the thought of retirement from their workplaces. The fear of the unknown (as regards making ends meet and meeting family needs) has always given many retiring persons sleepless nights.Financial experts, however, say that what many people in this category lack is that creative spirit, which can help them to lay their hands on a business that can sustain life after retiring from active work life.One of such ventures with which a retiree can continue to make a living and sustain his family after active work life, according to experts, is farming. But the question is: which particular aspect of farming should a retiree venture into to create a dependable source of earning' This has remained a source of worry to many retirees.While many have succeeded in the poultry business, many others have failed to break even after a long period, and in most cases, have had to eventually shut up shop as a result of the risk involved in such aspect of farming.But one new sub- sector of the poultry business that is now fast gaining ground is quail rearing. Some years ago, it started as a hobby. However, it is one aspect of the poultry business that has proved to be very lucrative in commercial terms today. Although it is a very new venture in Nigeria, commercial quail farming started in Australia as far back as the early 1970s, and it has become quite popular in countries, such as France, Germany, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Japan, Spain, Korea and Italy.Quail farming has been identified as a less expensive alternative to chicken farming. Operators also describe it as a very profitable venture. The bird, popularly referred to as Japanese quail, is more delicate, when compared with chickens. It is handy in nature; easy to handle and can adapt to any environment.A Nigerian, who is making efforts to cash in on this new business line in preparation for his retirement from active service, is the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State, Mr. Mohammed Kabiru Ibrahim. The senior police officer has turned this hobby into an income generating venture, by raising healthy, fertile and productive quail birds at his Zuma Farms in Zaria, Kaduna State.According to Ibrahim, the extremely rapid growth of the birds and their early sexual maturity make quail farming a profitable venture for any businessman, who wants quick return. He says that the birds mature fast and can be sold five weeks after hatching, while the female quail begins to lay eggs when it is seven weeks old.Because of the advantage of its short generation interval, Ibrahim says that three to four generations of quail birds can be produced within a year.In addition to selling the quail birds, Ibrahim also sells quail eggs, which are in high demand among his clients that stretch as far as Abuja. He makes in a lot of profit from selling quail birds and eggs, according to him. He also makes additional money from hatching quail eggs. He explains further that a female quail bird can produce about 280 eggs in a year, adding that rearing the birds is easy as they are not usually affected by the diseases other poultry birds easily succumb to.Ibrahim says that he started his quail farming business only five months ago with 50 birds, which have increased to about 6000 birds today. He believes that with good hygiene and effective management, quail birds will remain healthy and productive.He says, "Rearing quails is very easy and less strenuous, and you also need less finance. The only problem is the level of awareness. People are used to rearing and eating chicken and its eggs. So, we are trying to get people to be aware of the benefits derivable from quail eggs and meat. By the time people get more awareness of all these benefits, Im sure chicken and eggs will not be able to compete with it."I believe in starting small and growing big. I believe with between N50, 000 and N100,000, one can start the business. You can, at first, have a room in which you can start to breed them and then from there you can go to any length. As I told you, the mortality rate is very low and you spend less to feed them and within seven to eight weeks you begin to get your returns."If you have 1,000 birds that are layers, everyday you get between 800 and 900 eggs. Then, if you sell them each egg for N20, you get between N17,000 and N18,000 and you spend about N2,500 to feed them. By the time you subtract your expenses from income, you discover that you cannot make less than N10,000 profit a day. However, what you make daily depends on the number of birds you have."Ibrahim, however, says that there is more to the quail farming than the quick profit it brings to the farmer. According to him, the health and nutritional benefits derivable from the consumption of the quail meat and eggs are worth highlighting.The consumption of the quail eggs in particular has been proved to provide a cure for myriads of diseases and ailments. Buttressing Ibrahims claim, Google, the search engine, says a lot about its nutritional and health values."Although the meat and the eggs are so small in terms of quantity, they are so rich. The nutritional value you will get from them gives it an edge over some other common poultry animals. The quail can be consumed by anyone. It has no religious or cultural boundary. The quail and its eggs are things that people think no longer exist.But as easy as the quail farming seems, just like every other business venture, it has its challenges, which experts say, if you possess the know-how and the skill to handle them, you will succeed and make profit.
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