Farmers become self-reliant

Duck farms have brought a ray of hope to thousands of poor and marginalised families living near Chalan Beel, granting these mostly fishermen communities much needed financial solvency after the largest wetlands region in Bangladesh began gradually drying up.

More than 4,000 families of various upazilas, including Tarash of Sirajganj, Gurdaspur and Singra of Natore, Chatmohar and Bhangura of Pabna district, are raising ducks in 2,354 farms, say sources from the Rajshahi district Livestock Office.

Many of these entrepreneurs took out loans from local NGOs, and began their duck farm at their homes. The Department of Livestock also aided the local fishermen families by supplying them with a hybrid variety of ducklings.

These hybrid ducks became immensely popular with farmers in the region during the last five years because of the poultry’s speedy growth and the ability to produce a large number of eggs compared to the local variant.

Local people are getting involved in this venture as an alternative source of income. Many housewives of remote villages including Saguna, Baruhash, Mohishluti, Saigadighi, Naluakandi, Debipur, Moushuti, Handial and many other villages adjacent to the beel are rearing ducks too.

Speaking to The Business Post, several duck farmers in the region said their farms do not need any additional space in the house or extra land. The ducks are reared on open water and stay inside fences made of nets at night.

The farmers release their ducks in the beel at daytime, where they roam and feed naturally on the water.

A duck farmer of Saidadighi village, Sakina shared her experience with The Business Post saying, “I used to catch fish, dry them, then sell in the market. Now I have 120 ducks in my farm and I get 50 eggs on average per day. The cost of raising ducks here is almost negligible.

“They roam around the Chalan Beel and eat snails, insects and fish. But I have to provide them with extra food during the dry season.”

Farmers said ducks grow strong and healthy in the natural environment of Chalan Beel, and their eggs have a great demand in markets.

Abdul Malek, a farmer from Baliadanga area under Singra upazila, said, “I started duck farming by taking a loan from an NGO. I now have 300 ducks in my farm and get around 100 eggs daily. I bear my family expenses by selling those eggs.”

Awald Hossain of Nasiarkandi village said he has been rearing ducks for seven years and turning a good profit so far. He currently has 500 ducks and they are the sole source of his income.

Another farmer, Alif Uddin of Kalinagar village, said he has been farming ducks for 16 years. “I started out with only 30 ducks, but now I have 800. I get 400–450 eggs daily,” he added.

According to the Singra Upazila Livestock Office, the beel retains at least some water throughout the year, so ducks can feed in the water body without much issue. Due to this advantage, duck farming is very popular in the region.

Rajshahi District Additional Livestock Officer Antim Kumar Sarkar, Naogaon District Livestock Officer Mohir Uddin, Pabna District Livestock Officer Al Mamun Hossain Mandal and Natore Livestock Officer Golam Mostafa say Chalan Beel earns over Tk23.54 crore per year from duck farming.