Kasaragod: Madikkai Kanjirappoyil native M I Najeeb was the owner of ‘Galaxy’ bus travelling in Kanhangad Neeleshwaram – Kalichanadukkam. But after COVID lockdown was imposed, bus services were stopped. He had 4 tourist buses and they also were left in garage. He struggled to pay tax and make the ends meet. With this, Najeeb sold the line bus.
When he had no idea about the future, Najeeb thought about cattle farming. As buffalo rearing is more profitable, he decided to give it a try. Along with his twin brothers Irfan and Irshad and father Ibrahim, Najeeb started buffalo rearing as a new career.
First, they reared indigenous buffaloes brought from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Later, they brought Murrah, the best breed among buffaloes, from Haryana. Currently, they have nearly 50 buffaloes in their farm.
“When we don't conduct bus service too, we have to pay tax. When service is going on, we should find fuel expenses. But buffaloes need only some grass and water,” Najeeb revealed the secret behind moving to this career.
Initially, Najeeb used to rear buffaloes on their compound itself. Later, the number of buffaloes increased and he arranged a farm near Kalichanadukkam. Najeeb’s father Ibrahim said that people from different districts come to their farm to buy buffaloes. The family is relieved as buffalo farming is progressing profitably.