Female entrepreneurs are becoming self-reliant with the training of domestic chicken (local species) production farms under special housing systems in Meherpur.
The production cycle of chicken takes more time in the traditional way. On the other hand, more eggs and chicken can be produced under special housing systems.
The baby mortality is low in this system. So, the chicken farming becomes profitable as the demand and price of the local species chicken in the current market are high.
Many women including Zarina Khatun, Shirina Khatun, Rani Khatun, residents of Shyampur Union of Meherpur Sadar Upazila, have eliminated their poverty by raising chickens in this new method. They can now earn extra money for their family.
The women of the area said that they took training and built small farms following the special housing system of domestic chickens.
Zarina Khatun, who owns a farm, said that she was able to build the farm with the financial and technical support from a private organization, DBS. Currently, she has 130 domestic chickens in her farm. Apart from meeting the needs of the family, she is selling chickens in the market. Meanwhile, she has already sold a batch of chicken. Local species or commonly known as ‘Deshi’ chicken is sold at Tk 550 to Tk 600 per kg in the local markets. She is making a good profit by selling these domestic chickens.
Md Ruhul Amin Sardar, Livestock Officer of Daridra Bimochon Shangstha (DBS), said that currently, it is possible to rear domestic chickens with a relatively low investment and in a small area. As the price of domestic chicken is very high in the market, the farmers will be able to make more profit with less capital.
A semi-commercial domestic poultry farm has been established in Meherpur Sadar Upazila with the support of DBS funded by the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) ensuring more than 120 special housing units of chicken, he added.
Many people have become self-reliant by rearing these domestic chickens, making a positive change in their economic status. Each farm is provided with night houses for large chickens, cages with creepers for young chickens, hatching nests, electric bulbs, disinfectants spray, signboards and information books.
He also said that the purpose of this technology is to reduce the death rate of chickens by resisting the attacks of various animals.
Due to proper technical support, bio-security, brooding management, food management and regular vaccination, domestic chicken production has increased in the area.
Zubair Alam, assistant director of the organization, said that DBS is always working to increase the productivity of livestock as well as its quality.
Meherpur Livestock Officer Doctor Hadishul Abid said that the demand for domestic chicken is increasing, but the production of domestic chicken has not increased to that extent. In Meherpur, DBS is providing necessary support to the farmers by providing training a number of women at the village level with our help to rear local chickens in special housing system at the initial stage. Women farmers are also achieving success. In this way, domestic chicken farming can be spread to the marginal level and the demand for domestic chicken will be met.
