In our journey we visited many faces with our Poultry/Livestock Industry legends, and one among them is Mr. Jagbir Dhull, (Managing Director – Skylark Hatcheries) take us to his journey.
1. Are you originally from Safidon, Haryana?
No, I belong to the Ikkas village of the Jind district in Haryana. However, in 1985, I came to Safidon to assist my brother-in-law, Mr Jasbir Deswal, with his poultry farm. Together, we established ‘Skylark Hatcheries’. Thereon, I settled in Safidon because travelling from my village to here took a lot of my precious time and being deeply committed and passionate about my work, I did not want to waste a single second away from it.
2. What is the best thing you like in your journey?
With my entire heart and soul in the development of the company, the entire journey has been my favourite thing, rather than a specific step. Every rung of the ladder has had equal significance in the success story of Skylark. Like one step leading to the other, we kept identifying the problems and, further, came up with solutions. With this spirit, in the current scenario, our company has become one of the leading vertically-integrated poultry players in the country, with its operations expanding to hatcheries, feed, farms, equipment, food and proteins. With passion and commitment, every step has been enjoyed, and that makes it the best thing about my journey.
3. What is the right motivation you like in the journey from the starting till now?
In the face of all kinds of opposition and struggles, the right motivation that has kept me going throughout my whole journey is the idea of reaching the apex with honesty and self- determination. It was the thought of being nothing less than the best in the industry, right from the very beginning, which served as both the goal and the motivation to reach that goal. However, this has never been an easy task. Like a diamond formed under pressure, I have emerged strong under a lot of social criticism. Nevertheless, I have always aspired to shine the brightest, even in times of hardship. I have always believed in the power of ‘self’, which should be made strong enough to not be affected by any demeaning tactics.
4. Why did you choose the Poultry/ Livestock profession?
Right from the times I can recall, I had never planned to commit to service because I wanted to establish something of my own. This led me into the world of business. While I was exploring this diverse realm along with experiencing and experimenting, a friend of mine, belonging to a neighboring village named Jhulani, took me to his broiler farm. After visiting his farm a few times and observing it carefully, I gave it some thought and decided to enter the field of poultry. Thereon, I have persistently strode forward and never looked back. In addition to that, I always wanted to be a ‘philanthropreneur’. Not only am I singularly passionate about business, I have always been dedicated to the welfare of farmers, ecological sustainability and the betterment of society. Thus, because my thoughts and spark aligned with this sector, I chose it and still remain committed to it.
5. As compared to the other big players in the industry, how is your organization different?
Commitment in everything we do and every step we take, in addition to the consistency we maintain in all our processes, makes us stand tall among the leading players in the industry. In addition to that, I have always been dedicated in providing the best quality to my consumers. This vision was carefully crafted into the tagline of the company: “Quality is our Endeavour…” The three dots placed at the end have the deepest significance because they symbolise continuity, which indicates that even in the future, the company will ensure that quality remains the bedrock of the entire production process. Furthermore, our passion for excellence, progress, and, most importantly, sustainability sets us apart from other big players in the industry.
6. Please tell us about your family.
Growing up in an agricultural family, my father, Lt. Jai Lal, served as the Sarpanch of our village. My mother, Lt. Shanti Devi, served as a home-maker. Presently, my family includes my wife, Bir Mati, who manages our household, my son, Dr. Vikas, who assists me in business, and my daughter-in-law, Dr. Sapna, a radiologist and my daughter Dr. Anuj runs their own diagnostic center named ‘Good Hopes’. Our grandchildren, Veer, Jay, Aadit and Aarya, bring joy to our lives. Additionally, my daughter, Dr. Anuj, is happily married to Dr. Dinesh, who is nephrologist.
7. What is your organization’s roadmap for the next five years?
We aim to focus on the expansion of grandparent (GP) and parent farms across different geographies. In addition to that, we aspire to remain committed to providing the best quality to our customers and maintain our passion for excellence to take our company to greater heights. We also intend to selflessly reach out to more and more famers and contribute to the greater good of the society.
8. What is your message to the next generation entering in this business?
A general message for all the newcomers entering the world of business would be to remain self-motivated even in the face of the lowest falls and to be determined about not letting oneself get affected by the vilifying eye of the negative elements of the society. Being industry- specific, I would like the beginners to put their major focus on the preventive measures of the risk factors in this industry. From the first step to the end destination, nutrition and biosecurity act as the two balancing wheels of the bicycle of the poultry industry.
9. What are your favourite eatery foods?
I like foods that are simple and home-made.
10. What are your hobbies?
After work, I like to contemplate how things can be made better because I feel that the field of improvement is boundless. In addition to that, I am interested in watching the news and learning about different cultures and communities. This inspires me to explore different foreign destinations. Enjoying the greenery of nature also constitutes one of my hobbies, and therefore, I love hilly areas.
One of my habits is writing. I pen down my thoughts, ideas, plans and memories. I am a avid reader. I read almost everything, from books to article to newspapers. I had read many self-help books, business related books, body anatomy, poultry related, and so on. My biggest hobby of all is spending time with my family. No matter where I’m, I always run back home to my family when work is over. I enjoy playing with my grandchildren and talking with my wife.
11. Any remarks you would like to add?
My ideology places farmers at the top I am passionate about serving the society. Apart from that, I believe in sharing the knowledge I have to help others achieve what they want. I encourage new and constructive ideas, and I am always willing to give them a try, regardless of profit or loss, because I believe that fortune favours the courageous. I embrace calculated risks. Whether it succeeds or fails, I think that each event serves as a stepping stone, moving us ahead on our innovative adventure.
