"I needed to do something to supplement my family income to ensure education of my sons but many in the area opposed."

Parul, a village woman, now owns a duck farm at Chottoshiba village, about 50 kilometres east of Galachipa upazila headquaters in Patuakhali.

Parul, who crossed only primary level education, earns Tk 2000 to 2500 a month form her farm and adds it to the income by her daylabour husband Shafiq Gayi.

They have a happy family with three sons --Monir, 12, Masum, 10 and Mamun, 8.

'I was inspired by an elderly man Zafar, who owns a duck farm in the village. He advised me to set up a duck farm to fulfil my dream of higher education for my sons", she told this correspondent during a visit to the village last week.

There are 250 ducks in her farm. She collects around 100 eggs every day from her farm. Her husband sells the eggs in the local market.

Thirty year-old Parul Bagum said her husband works in farmlands as a daylabour and earns only Tk 40 to 50 a day, which is not enough for buying even rice for her family.

She earlier worked as a maid in a house in the village. He saved Tk 5 a day. When her savings reached Tk 500, she bought five ducks and started her farm.

Her husband Shafiq is helping her in maintaining the farm.

She did not take any loan from any NGO or government.

Parul's success inspired Rina Begum, Aleya Begum and Sandha Rani of the area. They have also started small duck farms.