Sheep farming gets popular

Farming of sheep is becoming more popular among young entrepreneurs in Jessore's Jhikorgachha upazila nowadays as it earns more profit with a small investment.

Due to its promising prospect, young entrepreneurs are getting more interested in sheep farming and setting up more farms on commercial basis in different areas, including Baisa area under Navaron union, Gorsuti under Ganganandapur, Gazir Dargah under Sadar union and Nowapara, Mallikpur and Chanpatola areas of the upazila.

Besides, it has created much enthusiasm among the entrepreneurs as it earns more profit in a short time and with a small investment.

Abdur Rahim Mridha, a resident of Baisa village in the upazila, has set up a sheep farm on his 40 bighas of land.

Seeing Rahim's success, a good number of young entrepreneurs, including Ilias Mahmud of Goursuti, Tariqul Islam of Mallikpur, Shahidul of Chanpatola and Ismail of Nowapara have set up sheep farms in their respective areas.

Many of the farm owners said a ewe gives birth to two to five lambs twice a year.

A full grown sheep, aged nearly two years, produces 30 kg to 35 kg of meat, which costs the same as local varieties of mutton. 

The cost of sheep rearing is comparatively low, entrepreneur Abdur Rahim said, adding that he started his farm with only six lambs and now the number is about 40.

Rahim said he collected three pairs of ewe, each costing Tk 6,500, and a lamb for Tk 8,000 from Shialmari Bazar in Meherpur in July 2011. 

After couple of days, he bought six more ewes at a cost of Tk 7,000, taking the investment on his farm to Tk 75,000.

As he did not have any experience in lamb rearing then, some of his lambs died earlier, but he gets a normal production now.

Sharsha Upazila Livestock Officer Dr Joydev Kumar Singha said they offered training and necessary advice to the sheep farmers.

But refuting his claim, farmers said no such initiative has been taken yet.