Farming of Black Bengal goat is becoming more popular among people in Chuadanga district as many poor families have overcome their financial hardship by rearing the animal.
Rearing of the world-famous black breed of the goat is contributing significantly to poverty alleviation in the district. If anyone visits some houses in Chuadanga, she/he will certainly find the Black Bengal goat in almost every house.
The local breed of Bangladesh’s Black Bengal goat is recognised as the best in terms of quality. According to the 2015 assessment by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Black Bengal goat is one of the best breeds in the world. This goat is known as 'Kushtia grade' in the international market.
However, as this goat is reared more in Chuadanga, a part of the larger Kushtia district, the district administration has announced 'Black Bengal goat' as Chuadanga district branding. Black Bengal goats are famous all over the world for their quality leather and tasty meat, their quick adaptability to any environment and the fact that they give 3-4 kids twice a year and play a significant role in poverty alleviation.
Besides Black Bengal goats, many families are rearing Haryana, Yamunapari, Totamukhi and Beetle breeds of goats in Chuadanga. A few species of goats are found across Chuadanga district, but 70 percent of them are Black Bengal goats.
Men as well as women can easily take care of this goat as there is no additional cost in rearing it. Many people have changed their lives by rearing these black goats.
This correspondent has visited four upazilas in Chuadanga and found Black Bengal goats in most of the places, including roads, fields and yards. Many farmers are earning Tk 2 to 3 lakh per year by rearing 20-30 goats.
Hasanuzzaman, a goat rearer of Chuadanga town, said, “I have been rearing goats all year along with agricultural work. Currently, I have more than 30 goats in my house. This goat can be sold for Tk 8,000 to Tk 10,000 within a year and a half. The goats grow by eating leaves, vegetable waste, grass and weeds around the house. So they don't need any extra cost to rear the animals.”
Lima Khatun brought prosperity to the family by rearing black goats. She has a family with her husband Monowar Hossain and three children. Their house is in Bishnupur village of Damurhuda upazila in the district. The family runs on husband's one bigha land and daily wage labour on other's land. In this situation, Lima took a loan of Tk 20,000 from Wave Foundation to buy two goats and built a lofted house for 10 goats. The two goats gave birth to two kids and within a year and a half, Lima sold the two Khasi for Tk 30,000.
Minarul Islam, a goat farmer in Chuadanga town, said, “In just six years, I now own more than 50 Black Bengal goats from two goats. Rearing of Black Bengal goats has changed my life. I bought two goats with a loan and started rearing them. Now I have more than 50 goats. A good amount of money is earned every year by selling goats and milk.”
According to Chuadanga District Livestock office, about 5 lakh goats are produced annually in the district while 23,000 metric tons of meat is produced from them. Currently, the goat meat is being sold at the rate of Tk 950-1,000 per kg in the market depending on the type. The annual income from goat meat and skin is Tk 2,000 crores in the district. Also, foreign currency is being earned by selling goat skin.
Arman Ali, livestock officer of Chuadanga Goat Development Farm, said Goat Development Farm was established in Chuadanga in 1996 to preserve the world famous Black Bengal goat breed in the district. Every year, goats are supplied from this farm to various parts of the country, including 10 districts of Khulna Division, at fixed prices. About 1,000 goats are reared in this farm.
Chuadanga District Livestock Officer (Acting) Dr Md Mostafizur Rahman said, Chuadanga can be called a sanctuary for the Black Bengal Goat. Due to its climate and favorable weather, it is the most suitable area for goat rearing. Black Bengal goat (black breed) is a brand of Chuadanga.
“I consider Chuadanga district to be the sanctuary of this goat. After researching 100 goats in the world, it was found that this black goat is the best. Chuadanga's Black Bengal goat meat is very tasty and has a huge demand in the country and abroad. It is the tradition of Chuadanga district. Most of the women in the village have a role in rearing these goats as their source of income. The annual income of selling goat meat and skin in this district is about Tk 2,000 crores.”
