DHAKA, sept,01, 2021 (BSS): Duck farming have changed Jahanra's family life. Now they are very happy by dint of this initiative . It has helped overcoming the family crisis.

  "Just 23 years back in 1998, I, along with my husband, started the farm with 50 ducklings. We bought those at Taka 500 and also spent another Tk 500 for building a duck shelter . . . But the duck-farm has now over 700 birds. It has given us a new life," housewife Jahanara Begum, a successful duck farmer, told BSS recently.

  Jahanara Begum , then a 26 years woman, and her husband Ataur Rahman had set up the duck farm at Karatkandi village under Khanmarich union of Bhangura upazila in Pabna district. " Now the annual income is about Taka two to three lakhs . . . We are able to save money for the educational expenses of two sons and other everyday expenditure of the five-member family," she said with a smiling face.

  But this success story started with only Taka 1000, at the very outset of the duck rearing. She said the cost of ducks rearing was very little. After six months, the ducks were sold at about Taka 6000. Besides, ducks laid a good amount of eggs from which a handsome amount was earned.

  ". Then we just started only moving forward amid increasing the farm's perimeter gradually. Now our total house has become a duck-farm. Presently we have also started rearing cows simultaneously ," she mentioned.

  Jahanara said every year at the end of the month of Baishakh, I use to buy 800-1000 ducklings of three-four days old. We start selling them at the perfect maturity on Magh (Bengali month). Each pair is sold at a wholesale price of TK 500-600. She said the ducks started laying eggs within six months and the farm gets 300 to 400 eggs per day. The market price of those eggs is estimated to Taka 3000 to 35000.

  In their five-member family, eldest son Jahangir Hossain passed the masters degree from Bogra Government Azizul Haque College and is now working at a private company. Youngest son Zahidul Islam is a second year student of degree (pass) at a local private college. Jahanara's husband Ataur said he did not have any crop land before starting this farm. Houses and farms are within the area of 15 Shotangsha land.

  He said earlier it was very difficult to run a family by cultivating others' land . At that situation we started a duck farm. By dint of this effort, we are now carrying on my children's educational and other household expenses. We bought five bighas of land with it. Visiting the spot, it was seen that Jahanara was standing behind the house with a pot of food in her hand.

  After a while, she started feeding the ducks with his younger son Jahidul. Hundreds of ducks started competition for having their food at that moment. When the farm's door is opened early morning, the whole house becomes noisy. One has to put his finger in the ear at the sound of the duck fluttering its wings. Really it is a matter of luck to show this scene, she mentioned.

   " I have gained a lot of recognition locally with ducks farm. Seeing this, many started small duck-farms and sought my suggestion. Many still come to take advice regarding the initiative," Jahanara Begum told BSS.

   She added: "Locals are now encouraging me to contest in the next Union Parishad (UP) polls for the post of "UP female member (reserved) . . . Now I want to participate in the elections." Ataur Rahman said it costs Taka 30,000 to 35,000 to buy 1000 ducklings. Then every day his farm takes three maunds of paddy, wheat or maize. Besides, medicines and food cost around Taka 2,000 per day. In adulthood, a pair of ducks is sold at Taka 500-600 at a wholesale price.

  He said excluding all expenses, we can save Taka 1.5 lakhs to two lakhs per year. However, this expenses would be less if it is possible to build a duck farm on the bank of the river or beal. . But presently, the profit is getting less due to the increase in the price of poultry food. Talking to BSS, school teacher Abul Kashem of the same village said, "We have seen from the beginning that this family had suffered a lot to survive . At present, they are very happy with their families by raising ducks.

  Khanmorich Union Parishad (UP) chairman and veteran freedom fighter Asadur Rahman said Jahanara's duck farm is truly exemplary instance which others to follow. "The farm-owners have become self-sufficient by raising ducks. They are now happy family.

  Inspired by this success, I hope that more poultry farms will be set up and unemployment problems in the area will be eliminated," the chairman added. Livestock Officer Tofazzal Hossain of Bhangura Upazila told BSS that Jahanara and Ataur, farmers of Karatkandi village, often went to his office for advice on raising ducks.

   They are much more experienced in running their poultry business. He said the family has become self-sufficient by farming ducks. It is an example of success as a farmer. Others like him should also come forward to do such farms. Seven departments of the incumbent government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are ready to provide them loans and other necessary supports if it is necessary.