| Case study 1. Sabita Rani Das (chickens) |
Sabita Rani Das is a widow with one daughter and lives in Thakurakona village, Netrakona Sadar Upazila, Netrakona District. Her major source of income comes from biri (local cigarette) making. Income from this source is seasonal as it is difficult to manufacture biris during the wet season. The project provided 14 cross bred pullets and 1 cross bred cockerel (Foumi breed) in January 2004. The chickens survive by scavenging around the homestead (including agricultural land when available). All labour is provided by Sabita and her daughter. Hens are supplemented with broken rice and boiled rice (when available). A small portion of their home is used to house the poultry at night.
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A small bamboo chicken house was built in the yard to keep the chickens confined for 5-10 days when seedbed of Boro and Aman are being prepared by neighbouring farmers and at other time if neighbours complain about chickens encroaching on their land. Chicken manure is used to fertilise homestead trees, vegetables, fruits etc.
Sabita sells eggs for hatching at Tk 3.75 each. There is good demand for these as they are from crossbred (improved) hens. In the local market eggs are sold for Tk 3.00. Since beginning her poultry enterprise Sabita's eggs are frequently consumed and she is able to offer eggs to guests. She recently borrowed Tk 2000 from her son in law (previously it was not possible to get credit) which is being repaid by weekly instalments from egg sales. She plans to save after repaying this credit to buy a goat for rearing. Day by day her standard of living is improving since she began her poultry enterprise.
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Case study 2. Maya Rani Das (ducks) |
Maya Rani Das is the wife of a landless farmer of Thakurakona village, Netrakona Sadar Upazila, Netrakona District. In January 2004 the project provided her 10 cross bred ducks and 1 cross bred drake (Zinding breed). She provides most of the daily labour required for managing this scavenging flock although her daughter in law, son and husband assisted her with the construction of a small house for the ducks. They also occasionally help with cleaning the house, feeding, collection of medicine, egg collection and sale. During the night the ducks are moved into the main house for safety. Ducks feed on local ponds and crop fields. They are supplemented with rice bran, broken rice, boiled rice and small snails collected from ponds when water level of ponds is low.
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The ducks find sufficient feed from different sources during the rainy season (March-August) and during this period feed supplements are not required. Duck manure is used to fertilise homestead trees and a small portion is used to fertilise a neighbour's pond (they have no ducks). Since embarking on this duck enterprise Maya is able to help her family meet their daily household expenditure by selling eggs.
She has also been able to save money for medical treatment. The duck flock has expanded to 19 following the hatching of eggs and she has diversified into chicken production (hatching 12 chicks). Before beginning this poultry enterprise she had no work other than cooking and other household tasks. Household income has increased since she began selling eggs and her general wellbeing, social and family status has increased. The household frequently consumes eggs. She is saving and planning to buy a goat in the near future and hopes that her small homestead can become a thriving livestock farm in the future.
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| Case study 3. Sufia Khatun (goats) |
Sufia Khatun and her husband and son are live in Charbogra village, Muktagacha Upazila, Mymensingh District. The project provided a Black Bengal goat (local breed) with 2 kids in January 2004. Labour and management of the goats are shared among herself, her husband and son. The goats are tethered on road sides, other grazing areas and seasonal fallow lands. Wheat bran and boiled rice are occasionally provided as supplements along with jackfruit leaves and kitchen waste particularly when the weather is wet and goats are reluctant to graze/browse. A part of their living space is used to house the goats at night. Goat manure is used on sharecrop fields, fruits and homestead vegetables.
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The goat produced 2 further kids within 6 months. After one year 2 kids and one doe were sold before Eid for Tk3100. This income was used to repair the family home (a tin roof replaced the thatch) and build a new (private) latrine (previously the family had no access to a latrine). At present they have one pregnant doe and are expecting more kids soon.
The training provided by the project has proved invaluable, in particular the veterinary training including information about where and how to access veterinary drugs. Sufia Khatun and her family are happy with their increased income and expect goat rearing to provide further benefits in the future.
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