The fledgling business of emu farming is facing a stalemate in Pune district due to lack of proper processing industries necessary for preparing emu-based products.

“Pune district has over 100 farms where emu rearing is done for commercial purposes. These birds have high economic value for their meat, eggs, oil, skin and feathers. However, there are no processing industries around that will process  products from emu,” said founder of Emu Farmers Association, India, Bhadresh Mehta.

Emu, which belongs to the ratite group of flightless birds, is around 1.5-metre tall bird weighing around 60 kg. The bird’s meat is considered a rich source for dietary ingredients and its oil is believed to have many vital medicinal properties.

Emu delicacies, which are costlier than chicken and mutton, are available at some hotels  and dhabas in Pune.

“Emu meat is sold between Rs 400 to 600 per kg. Its oil is priced at Rs 2,500 to 4,000 per litre and emu fat is available between Rs 500 and 1,000 per kg. The  bird’s skin and nails are used for a variety of purposes,” said Mehta, who is a proprietor of Kalpataru Emu Management and Products in Mawal taluka.

He said the extraction of meat, fat and oil from the emu’s body requires special procedures and could be done properly on a large scale if processing industries were in place.

Rahul Gadhve, an emu farm owner from Junnar taluka, said that the state government should give boost to the important agro-allied business of  emu rearing.

“The government should provide financial backing to  emu farm owners, who are keen on setting up processing industries,” he said.

He said in absence of  processing industries, the emu farming business has been centered around hatcheries only.

ON AHA LISTThe American Heart Association (AHA) has included emu meat on its recommended list of food for heart patients as it is 98 per cent fat-free diet. The emu oil consists of vital fatty acids and benefits are thought to be due to the ability of the oil to deeply penetrate the human skin layers.