Finding success in rearing deshi chicken

Md Ishaq Khan, a farmer based in Bagerhat, has seen the face of success rearing deshi (local breed) chicken in environment friendly way.

Ishaq started his venture Mahmuda Agro Farm at his home in Kaldia village of Bagerhat Sadar upazila four years ago. Now, he has 2,000 deshi chickens laying 200 to 250 eggs a day. The eggs are sold at about Tk 10 per piece.

He earns Tk 25 to 30 thousand a month from his farm.

Mahmuda Agro Farm has also three employees who have also become solvent working in the farm.

Belal, a worker of the farm said, "I feed the chickens, keep them clean and collect eggs. I am running my family with the income that I get here. We work comfortably here, because unlike other poultry farms, there is no such bad small here."

But Ishaq did not start farming from the beginning of his career, he was a contractor engaged in construction work. But he incurred a huge loss and fell into debt trap. Finding no other way to survive, he bought an incubator at the cost of Tk 50,000 and hatched chicks four years ago.

"I have been able to repay some of the loan from the income of this firm in four years. I am managing the cost of my family and the education of my three sons from the income of this farm," he said.

There is a huge demand for local chicken meat and eggs in the market. I have enough land, but can't expand the farm due to lack of cash. If I get a low-interest loan or any government assistance, I can make this firm bigger.

"I use black cumin, fenugreek, white sesame, linseed, Sabu grains, turmeric powder, lemon, rice and aloe vera, Asiatic pennywort, basil leaves, neem leaves, rice bran from the local market as feed. As a result, my chicken is 100 percent healthy and does not cause any stench on my farm," he added.

Bagerhat District Animal Resources Officer Lutfar Rahman praised Ishaq's farming method and assured of technical and medical assistance to the farm.

If more people like Ishaq comes forward to breed local chickens, it will be possible to meet the demand for, he said.