Nagaratna, a 46-year-old woman residing in Abbalathi A Colony, Periyapatna Taluk, Mysore District, lives with her husband, son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. Her husband is supportive and engaged in agriculture and dairy farming, while her son has a salaried job, and her daughter-in-law assists with household duties and farming activities.
Nagaratna participated in the MOVE training, where she gained insights into starting a business and understanding why many businesses fail. The coin game played during the training helped her identify target customers and realize the potential of selling locally to grow her enterprise. Market visits and the selling activity provided her with a deeper understanding of how markets and businesses function, including the possibility of starting a business with as little as INR 200. However, Nagaratna acknowledged that she made a mistake when selecting her business idea.
Driven by her love for animals, Nagaratna wanted to pursue a unique business compared to her fellow sangha and federation members. Initially considering dairy farming and bangle and saree selling, she later recalled the importance stressed by Pawadshetty, the MOVE trainer, to start a business based on customer demand rather than personal preference.
About a month after the training, Nagaratna visited Kushal Nagar and encountered a man selling white rabbits. Learning about the demand and price of rabbits, she decided to breed and sell them. After a few months, she ended up with nine adult rabbits and several young ones, but faced challenges in finding buyers and obtaining the right price. Despite selling a few rabbits to villagers at a minimal profit, the market appeared small, and Nagaratna’s lack of space and her husband’s skepticism further hindered the venture.
Recognizing the need for guidance, Nagaratna sought Pawadshetty’s assistance to make her rabbit business successful. She mentioned his previous advice on breeding techniques, separating male and female rabbits, and protecting the young ones. While her grandchildren showed her YouTube videos about rabbit breeding and selling, the lack of buyers posed difficulties in maintaining the rabbits.
Nagaratna expressed the need to explore markets and identify potential customers interested in consuming or keeping rabbits as pets. She also expressed a desire for training on breeding techniques, optimal selling times, and general maintenance. She hoped that BPF or her federation could provide the necessary training and support to help her identify customers and establish a thriving business.