Ducks bring luck to poor families of Chalan Beel
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
Our Correspondent
RAJSHAHI, Nov 3: More than 3,000 poor and marginal families have become economically solvent by rearing ducks in Chalan Beel villages.
People of 31 villages of upazilas Tarash of Sirajganj, Gurudaspur and Singra of Natore, Chatmohar and Bhangura of Pabna districts are engaged in rearing ducks on a large scale at their houses. Some of the farmers have 50 to 200 ducks.
Housewives of remote beel (marshland) villages of Saguna, Baruhash, Mohishluti, Saigadighi, Naluakandi, Debipur, Moushuti, Handial and many other villages around the Chalan Beel are rearing ducks as an alternative source of income.
People of the Chalan Beel villages said, in the past their only profession was to catch fish, dry and sell them in the markets. Poverty was their perennial companion. Moreover, for the last three decades, the Chalan Beel has become dry and paddy is cultivated there during the dry season. As a result, the families depending on fish farming and catching turned helpless and poor.
Many of the poor fishermen families took loan from NGOs and started duck farming at their houses. The Department of Livestock also came forward to assist them by supplying hybrid variety of ducklings.
The hybrid ducks got immense popularity among beel people for their speedy growth and laying of large number of eggs. Within five years, the number of duck farm owners has increased to more than 3,000 in the Chalanbeel area.
RAJSHAHI, Nov 3: More than 3,000 poor and marginal families have become economically solvent by rearing ducks in Chalan Beel villages.
People of 31 villages of upazilas Tarash of Sirajganj, Gurudaspur and Singra of Natore, Chatmohar and Bhangura of Pabna districts are engaged in rearing ducks on a large scale at their houses. Some of the farmers have 50 to 200 ducks.
Housewives of remote beel (marshland) villages of Saguna, Baruhash, Mohishluti, Saigadighi, Naluakandi, Debipur, Moushuti, Handial and many other villages around the Chalan Beel are rearing ducks as an alternative source of income.
People of the Chalan Beel villages said, in the past their only profession was to catch fish, dry and sell them in the markets. Poverty was their perennial companion. Moreover, for the last three decades, the Chalan Beel has become dry and paddy is cultivated there during the dry season. As a result, the families depending on fish farming and catching turned helpless and poor.
Many of the poor fishermen families took loan from NGOs and started duck farming at their houses. The Department of Livestock also came forward to assist them by supplying hybrid variety of ducklings.
The hybrid ducks got immense popularity among beel people for their speedy growth and laying of large number of eggs. Within five years, the number of duck farm owners has increased to more than 3,000 in the Chalanbeel area.