JASHORE, August 3, 2021 (BSS)- Poultry farming has created a unique opportunity for giving jobs to hundreds of unemployed people side by side boosting the rural economy of the district.

According to the District Livestock Department Office, more than 2,000 big, medium and small size poultry farms have already been set up in the district creating jobs for hundreds unemployed people especially youths and improving their socio-economic condition side by side giving a significant boost to the rural economy.

District Livestock Officer Md. Baktiar Hossain told BSS that
the state-run commercial banks and other financial institutions including Bangladesh Krishi Bank and Sonali Bank have been helping the rural entrepreneurs by giving financial assistance under the government’s “Poverty Alleviation Programmes” to take different agro-based income generating activities like poultry farms.

 “The commercial banks and other financial institutions have been giving financial assistance to the rural entrepreneurs following directives of the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for alleviating the poverty from the society,” he said.

 Mobile teams of the District Livestock Department under the
supervision of the veterinary doctors have been rendering medicare services to check out-breaking of different deadly diseases including bird flu and Rani Khet in the poultry farms as well as to keep the health condition of the poultry birds normal, he added.

While talking to BSS, resident of Bergobindapur in Chaugacha upazila Md Sabbir Hossain and resident of Putiakhali in Keshabpur  upazila Animesh Das, owners of two separate poultry farms under the district, said Taka 600 to 650 is needed for rearing a hybrid chicken per year which lays 300 to 310 eggs a year. “So, we can easily maintain our family and save some money by earning profit from the poultry farms” they added.

Maksuda Akter, wife of Aminul Islam Biplob of Maligati-Fulsara area under Chaugacha upazila of the district, who has established a poultry farm at her village home said Taka three to four is needed for feeding a layer chicken every day.

“I was encouraged by other poultry farm owners as well as officials of the livestock department to establish the poultry farm which has 5,000 chickens now becoming a profitable venture,” she added.

Over 50 poultry farm owners of the district said the lifestyle
and socio-economic conditions of many unemployed people including youths and farmers of the district have been improved after setting up poultry farms.

 They underscored the need for setting up a big cold storage in the district to preserve the eggs of the poultry birds prior to marketing.