Rajbari local making it big from poultry farming

Md Zahangir Hossain, a resident of Baro Banglot village under Kalukhali upazila in Rajbari, once paid a human trafficker Tk 6 lakh to smuggle him into Europe but ultimately ended up in India, where he spent five months working as a labourer.

During his time in the neighbouring country, Hossain visited various farms and saw how to raise different types of chicken. Inspired by what he had learnt, Hossain collected six hens of three breeds before returning home in 2016.

The 46-year-old now has 40 different breeds of chicken at his farm, which earns him a profit of between Tk 25,000 and Tk 30,000 per month.

"I had to stop studying by the seventh semester of my diploma course on engineering due to poverty. I then went to the Maldives for work on borrowed money from relatives in 2011," he said.

Hossain had returned home after five years and soon tried to leave for Europe but ultimately settled on rearing chickens after being cheated by a human trafficker.

"Now I can make good profit by selling chickens and eggs," he added.

Hossain had brought a pair of Brahma Chicken, Silkie Chicken, Milli Chicken from Chennai spending Tk 25,000 before returning to Bangladesh in 2016. He initially kept all the chicken in a corner of his living room.

"I have always loved keeping animals and birds as pets and even trained under the Jubo Unnayan Department in 2007 on poultry farming," he said.

"At first I thought I would just keep the chickens as pets rather than a commercial production but now, I earn a lot from the business," Hossain added.

The 40 breeds of chicken now available at Hossain's farm with the pricier ones selling for between Tk 5,000 and Tk 70,000 per pair. He collected the chicken by visiting various countries, including Nepal, Bhutan, Vietnam, Indonesia.

However, most of the breeds came from India, said Hossain, who spent five years to set up the farm.

"I have already invested Tk 18 lakh in the business and can earn about Tk 50,000 per month excluding expenses by selling chickens, chicks and eggs," he added.

However, Hossain went on to say that he struggled a lot in the past as he owed about Tk 20 lakh to different people, including relatives.

"But the profit from this farm has helped me pay all debts and also build two houses at a cost of about Tk 12 lakh," he said.

Hossain then said that people from all over the country personally contact him for chickens while he also has a webpage called, "Ittadi Agro and Hatchery".

People of different ages, but mostly young men, come to Hossain for advice on how to build up a farm like his.

"My target is to fulfil the demand of those people who collect different varieties of chickens from abroad. I sold one chicken for Tk 1.5 lakh a few months ago," he added.

Md Nazmul Islam of Subidpur village under Faridganj upazila of Chandpur, said he has been buying different varieties of chicken from Hossain for the past one-and-a-half years and selling them in his own area.

"I have been making good profit by selling these breeds, which people mostly buy as pets," he added.

Islam then said he bought two three-day-old chickens from Hossain for Tk 1,000 and Tk 1,500 per piece.

"After three months I can sell each for Tk 2,500 and Tk 15,000," he added.

Mazran Sharif, a student of class 12 of Pangsha Government College, said he bought seven pairs of chicken from Hossain after seeing his video on YouTube.

"I want to build a farm like him so that I can earn beside my study," Sharif added.

Similarly, others have been inspired to follow in Hossain's footsteps as Md Joy from Satkharia collected 10 pairs of chickens from the farmer for Tk 50,000 about one year ago.

"Now, all of my chickens have started giving eggs, some of which I hatch to expand my farm. I have already sold some chickens for Tk 15,000 and seeing my success, other youths in the area are becoming interested in the poultry business," he said.

Hossain's mother Zahida Begum said their family suffered a lot after the passing of her husband 15 years ago.

"But now my son is doing good by rearing chicken as people come every day to buy fresh chickens and eggs. This farm is a boon for us," she added.

Hossain hopes to one day enter the Guinness World Records as the top collector of different varieties of chicken from across the world.

Fazlul Haque Sardar, district livestock officer of Rajbari, said Hossain is really doing well by rearing different types of chickens at his home.

"So, we are giving all kinds of support to increase his collection," Sardar told The Daily Star.

Hossain provides advice to youths in his area to become solvent by rearing chicken like his, which can be eaten without concern thanks to their organic upbringing, he added.