Poultry farming brings fortune

Begum, owner of a poultry farm at Tariapara in Sharishabari upazila, Jamalpur collecting eggs for sale. Formerly a poor housewife, Begum changed her lot within two years of taking loan from an NGO. PHOTO: STAR

Begum,40, wife of Abdul Quddus of Tariqpara under Sharishabari Pourasabha became self-reliant within two years of her sincere efforts.

Before this situation her jute mill worker husband Abdul Quddus could not run their family of seven members with his meagre monthly income ranging from Tk 800 to 1,000. According to Begum, they had nothing but only a tin-shed house. Most of the time they had to remain ill-fed or half-fed. Sending children to school was out of their imagination in this situation.

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The change started sometime in 2001when Begum started rearing local variety of hens, she bought at a cost of Tk 300. 'After a few days, the hens started laying eggs,' said Begum. By selling eggs she began to help her family. Afterwards, she engaged herself in producing chickens.

In 2002, Begum along with a few poor women contacted the personnel of ASA, a major NGO for loan. After inspection, ASA officials granted her a loan of Tk 5,000. With the loan, Begum turned her small tin-shed house into a poultry farm. She paid the NGO loan with interest regularly keeping her capital intact. When she found the business profitable she proposed the NGO officials for granting further loan. She got loan amounting to Tk 50,000. She expanded her farm house by utilising the loan.

At present, poultry birds in her farm lay 500 eggs daily. At present she earns about Tk 25,000 per month by selling only eggs.

Now she has a cash of Tk one lakh after refunding loan. Her husband is also helping her in her endeavour. She also appointed Rasheda, a poor woman at her farm.

Excluding all expenses, Begum receives Tk 25,000 as net profit every month. She also repaired her old dwelling house. Her one son and a daughter are married while her three other children are studying in a local school so that they can lead a decent life in future.

Her husband said he is proud of her poultry farm owner wife while ASA officials said they wish their client every success in life.