Being a popular animal in the Middle Eastern countries, fat tailed sheep-- popularly known in Bangladesh as ‘Dumba’, -- are gaining popularity among the farmers of Chuadanga due to low cost-high profit.
According to local sources, in the heart of Chuadanga’s Damurhuda upazila, a unique farming initiative is gaining attention as a herd of Dumba – typically found in the deserts of the Middle East – thrive in an artificial desert environment.
The farm, located in the village of Koshaghata, has created a small-scale desert-like setting to suit the natural habitat preferences of the Dumba, a breed of fat-tailed sheep known for its resilience in arid climates.
Established in November 2019, the Go Green Centre has been operating as a planned Dumba breeding farm. With support from the District Livestock Office and technical assistance from the livestock division of Wave Foundation, the initiative is now bearing fruit. The farm currently raises two main breeds. the white ‘Ayoshi’ from the Middle East and the brown-and-white ‘Red Mashai’ from Africa.
The animals are reared in a manner similar to goats and sheep. Their diet includes green grass, rice bran, wheat husk, crushed maize, molasses, mustard oil cake, chickpeas, and tree leaves. Particularly fond of jackfruit leaves, these animals grow steadily under a structured care routine. A three to four-month-old lamb typically weighs 12 to 15 kilograms, while a 1.5-year-old ewe can reach 45 kilograms. Mature rams, around 2.5 years old, may weigh between 70 and 80 kilograms. Each Dumba is vaccinated twice yearly and dewormed every three months.
Monowar Hossain, a caretaker at the farm, explained, “Dumba prefer desert-like conditions, so we’ve replicated a small desert environment here.” The animals are calm by nature and reproduce twice a year, often giving birth to one or two lambs. They become ready for breeding at 10 to 12 months of age.
Hasanuzzaman Hasan, a livestock technical officer at Wave Foundation, noted the rising interest among locals, stating, “The Dumba are docile and easy to manage. We’re working to expand Dumba farming among our beneficiaries.”
Senior Coordinator Kamruzzaman Juddha added that the foundation supplies lambs across the country and encourages small-scale Dumba farming at the household level. Regular buyers like Abdul Latif praise the quality and health of the animals, often reselling them in urban markets such as Dhaka. Dr Md. Shahabuddin, District Livestock Officer, highlighted the potential: “Dumba farming is a promising sector. With proper support, it could become a significant contributor to the local economy and help reduce meat imports.”
As curiosity grows among locals, the success of the Dumba farm showcases how innovation, favourable climate, and technical assistance can turn an unlikely region into a thriving hub for a desert-native species. However, experts stress that government support, including access to bank loans, will be essential for scaling up and turning Dumba farming into a path to rural economic empowerment.
