Local duck and chicken rearing

By Biswajit Mondal from Shyamnagar, Satkhira

In Jelekhali village, located in Shyamnagar upazila, most families rely on agriculture and livestock for their livelihood. Alongside seasonal crop cultivation, households raise ducks, chickens, cows, goats, sheep, and pigeons. Farmers Sujata and Ekadoshi Barman explained that local duck and chicken rearing is a major source of income and nutrition. Nearly every household keeps between 5 and 30 birds.

Farmer Sulta Rani shared that she currently owns 18 chickens, 14 ducks, and 12 pigeons. She earns around 3,000 taka per month from selling eggs and about 8,000 taka from selling poultry. In addition, her family’s nutritional needs are met through home-produced food.

She said that local chicken rearing requires minimal external feed, as birds can be raised using household leftovers like rice bran, vegetable scraps, and grains. These birds are also more disease-resistant and suitable for free-range rearing. Traditional methods are sufficient for hatching eggs.

Farmer Shyamali Mondal added that she produces chicks at home and sells them locally. She described poultry rearing as a low-cost, low-risk, and profitable activity. Women in the village are increasingly contributing to household income through this work.

In coastal areas where salinity and natural disasters limit crop production, poultry farming serves as a reliable alternative livelihood. Supporting such initiatives through government and non-government programs could further strengthen rural economies.