Duck farming brings new hope
Success doesn't always keep good time; sometimes it arrives late. Such is the experience of 52-year-old Shahidul Islam from Rasulpur village in Naogaon's Atrai upazila, who after many years of struggle has finally landed on his feet. For him, the key to solvency turned out to be rather simple: a matter of ducks.
“I rode rickshaws. I worked as a salesman to maintain my family. Times were always difficult. Plagued by financial constraints I never knew mental satisfaction,” he recalls. “Duck farming changed that. The best thing has been the chance to live with dignity.”
The transformation in his financial circumstances began humbly on a day in mid-May, 2015. As Shahidul wandered through a village he noticed a large water body. “I don't know why, but I started to wonder how such a water body could be used for income,” he says. “Later the idea of duck farming dawned on me, although I had no experience farming ducks.”
He had no money to get started so, on the following day, he went to a local non-government organisation to arrange a loan. When the money met his hand he did not delay: Shahidul went straight to the market in Ahsanganj and purchased fifty ducks.
Thus began a new struggle. To look after the ducks was laborious. He built them a home alongside the water body. He woke early every morning to release the ducks, only to gather them again of an evening. Such has been his daily routine for the last three years.
“I found that raising ducks in this way offered a reasonable profit but after about a year I wanted to take the business further,” Shahidul says. By this time the ducks were regularly laying eggs. Shahidul built a hatchery at his home and grew his flock to 600 birds.
“I now sell eggs, adult ducks and also baby ducks born at my hatchery,” says Shahidul. “Duck farming on a public water body is a cheaper option than having a private duck farm. The ducks feed themselves on natural food like snails. There's no need to give them extra food.”
Over the last eighteen months Shahidul's enterprise has earned him around Tk 3 lakh. It's the sort of success that has attracted the interest of many.
“Shahidul's business was really eye-catching,” says Faruk Hossain from nearby Ghoshpara village. “After seeing his success I also started rearing ducks, and I'm not the only one.”
“Around fifteen people from this village, including previously unemployed young people are now involved in duck farming,” estimates Ghoshpara resident Shahad Ali.
Shahidul acknowledges the support of local livestock officials in helping him to realise his dream of solvency. “I couldn't have done it without them,” he says. “They helped me with the ducks, and the ducks have given me hope.”
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