A 42-year-old man has started a donkey farm and breeding center on the outskirts of Mangaluru, moved by the suffering of donkeys, a harmless but much-neglected animal.
The center is the first of its kind in Karnataka and just the second of its kind in India, following one in Ernakulam, Kerala. Srinivas Gowda, a Ramanagara native who grew up in Bengaluru, has come a long way.
The farm, which opened on June 8, is the first of its kind in Karnataka and the country, after one in Kerala's Ernakulam district.
The farm's owner, Srinivas Gowda, says he was moved by the situation of donkeys, who are typically overlooked and undervalued.
After quitting his work in a software company, Gowda founded Isiri farms, an integrated agriculture and animal husbandry, veterinary services, training, and fodder development center on a 2.3-acre plot in Ira village in 2020.
The farm already contains rabbits and Kadaknath chickens, in addition to goat breeding. According to Gowda, the donkey farm would start with 20 donkeys.
He claims that the number of donkey species is dwindling as dhobis are no longer using them to wash linen due to the advent of washing machines and other technology.
When the idea of a donkey farm was shared with them, Gowda stated several people were apprehensive and mocked him. The milk of a donkey is delicious, expensive, and medicinal.
People will be able to buy donkey's milk in packages, according to Gowda. As per him, a 30ml milk packet would cost Rs 150 and will be available at malls, shops, and supermarkets.
He also plans to sell donkey's milk for use in cosmetics. He claims that he has already received orders for Rs 17 lakh.
