RAJSHAHI, Sept 23 (BSS): Rashida Begum, 45, a resident of Beel Sohar village under Tanore upazila, has been able to break the poverty cycle after finding the way of a better livelihood though self- employment.
Earning money from duck farming and a grocery shop has now become a consistent source of income, which is gradually increasing due to rising local demands.
"The income has driven-out my long-lasting poverty and financial hardship and uncertainty those I had before," said Rashida.
The transformation in her life began in 2014. Initially, she received a loan worth Taka 5,000 from her 60-member Village Development Committee (VDC) and established a small-scale duck farm at her home.
"Ducks farming is less expensive, simple and commercially viable," she said sharing her experience.
Rasheda said that she made good profit by selling ducks and eggs at the local markets, and eventually opened a grocery shop with earning from the farm.
"Now, I'm very happy as I have found the path of regular earning through operating the shop and the duck farm successfully," added Rasheda, who has no educational background.
Meanwhile, commercial farming of ducks including gooses are gaining popularity in the region including its vast Barind tract for the last couple of years in the wake of gradually increasing nutritional demand and lucrative market price.
Duck products such as eggs and meat have a great demand in the local markets. So, commercial duck farming business is being adjudged as a great source of earning.
Many successful farmers are making a high profit from their duck farming business. Duck farming business has also become a stable employment source.
Young unemployed educated people are joining the business making their own employment source.
Hundreds of poor and marginal families have become economically solvent by rearing ducks. There are more than 2,500 duck farms in Rajshahi division comprising eight districts and its farming has become more profitable and sustainable, where Beel areas and wetlands are situated, said ATM Fazlul Kadir, divisional Deputy Director of Department of Livestock Services.
He said many people raise ducks both on commercial and small scale to get meat or egg. Even, they raise some ducks on their own backyard with other birds or animals.
Mahtab Ali, a rural jobless person who completed graduation and failed to get a job, is presently owner of a duck farm and now able to manage his family properly. He is an inhabitant of Talanda village.
While talking to the newsman Ali, owner of the farm, said even five years ago, the income of his father, a poor farmer, was not enough to meet even the basic needs of their family.
However, he was committed to doing something positive to change the lot of his family. Therefore, he took a short training course from Rajshahi Youth Development Training Center in 2008, and set up a duck farm adjacent to his house.
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