DHAKA, Jan 06, 2022 (BSS)- Shahara Khatun and Monira Begum , a housewife and another one is a widow respectively, of Anwarpur village of Bangalpara union under Austagram upazila of Kishoreganj district have become self-reliant by two little cattle farms which inspired many women of the haor region to make them self-dependent.

   The story of Sharaha Khatun is different from other women in the area. Shahara's husband Nasir Mia is a farmer. She got married to Nasir Mia in 1998. After one year of marriage, Shahara started to fosterage ducks and hens at her house.

   Within just 2-3 years, she deposited a lot of money by selling eggs of ducks and hens. As her husband is a rich farmer, Shahara need not financially contribute to her family. As a result, her income was increasing day by day. However, her ducks and hens provided nutrition to her family members in the food list.

  In 2008, Shahara bought four cows and started her new journey of cattle fattening. Her husband Nasir Mia helped and inspired her a lot. At present, the woman farmer has seven cows in her little farm. During every Eid-ul-Adha she sells her cattle and buys new cattle later at a low price. In such a way, Shahara earned around Taka 14 lakh.

   Last year, she bought one acre of crop land costing Taka 8 lakh. Besides, she is helping her four sons study by providing them with handsome money every month. Shahara's elder son Jibon Ahammad is studying law at a private university in the capital and her second son Joy Ahammad is a university admission seeker this year.

   Describing her position, the housewife said, " I wanted to be a self-dependent person. After my marriage, I told my husband about my dream. He supported my work and always helped. By my relentless efforts, now I am a self-dependent woman. Though my husband is a rich man in the village, I never seek financial support from him. Besides, I help him by providing money to our sons who are studying at different educational institutions including Dhaka. I think I am a successful woman who stands on her own foot in the haor area."

  Monira Begum of the same village has also become self-reliant by her cattle farm. The widow started her farm after her husband passed away. The mother of six children became helpless by the death of her husband, a fisherman by profession.

   At present, her cattle farm has four cows. She sells about 6-8 liter milk daily at Bangalpara Bazar by her son Shah Ali. Monira's annual income from the cattle farm is Taka 2-3 lakh. " I was in deep trouble after my husband's death. My two elder sons don't look after me and my younger son and daughters. One day I borrowed Taka 20 thousand from my younger brother and bought a cow cub. Few years later, it turned into a cow. Now I have four cows and I wish the number of cows at my farm will increase in future as I am earning very well now, Monira said.

   Social worker and women leader of Austagram upazila Syeda Nasima Akter said, "Many women like Shahara and Monira are becoming self-dependent in the haor region day by day in many ways. Cattle and duck farming is popular for haor women. I hope, every woman of the haor area will stands own their own foot one" she said.