Rangpur: For years, Sajeda Khatun's world revolved around household chores. Once the day's work was done, she had little to occupy her time. But idleness never suited her. Inspired with determination, hard work and a dream of contributing to her family's income, the homemaker from a remote village in Rangpur embarked on a journey that not only transformed her own life but also inspired hundreds of others. Today, Sajeda earns nearly Taka 50,000 a month from duck farming, built a thriving enterprise with around 2,500 ducks, created employment opportunities and became a role model for rural women seeking financial independence.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, her success story began in Hazipur village under Taraganj upazila, about three kilometres from the upazila headquarters. Travelling along the village's winding roads, visitors are greeted by rows of vegetable fields, ponds, and duck farms. Every morning, thousands of ducks spread across nearby ponds and wetlands in search of food, while villagers remain busy collecting eggs and tending to their flocks. Sajeda's farm is among the largest in the area. As visitors enter the premises, they find her busy gathering freshly laid eggs. Sitting beneath the shade of a tree beside her farm, she recounts a journey marked by perseverance, hardship, and remarkable success.
About 350 kilometres to the southwest, in Kalidaspur village in Damurhuda upazila of Chuadanga, Rotna Khatun has followed a similar path, turning duck farming into a source of prosperity for her family. With the technical support and guidance from NGOs like PKSF and WAVE Foundation, many women like Rotna have changed their fortunes in a short time. 'I started my duck farming venture by investing Taka 18,000 to purchase 52 peeking ducks. Since then, I have sold ducks worth around Taka 50,000 and still have several ducks left. I wish to sell those for additional income,' Rotna said. Encouraged by the returns, she plans to expand her farm and rear more ducks in a planned manner in the coming years.
Dolly Khatun of Kalupara village in the same area said she received 50 ducks under a support programme run by an NGO. She has already sold 20 ducks for Tk 15,000 and still has 30 ducks, which she also plans to sell. She said seven people in the locality took up duck farming under the initiative, and all of them have earned profits, improving their livelihoods and bringing financial stability to their families.
In the Rajshahi region also, duck farming has emerged as a successful and reliable source of income, creating employment opportunities for marginalised families, unemployed youth, and rural women. High demand for duck eggs and meat, coupled with comparatively low production costs, has made the sector increasingly profitable. Many farmers are also adopting integrated farming methods, combining duck rearing with fish cultivation to maximise returns. Government support, including the supply of vaccines, improved ducklings and technical assistance, has further boosted the sector, officials said.
Rahima Begum of Bakshimoil village under Mohanpur upazila has achieved financial solvency through duck farming. She began with 300 ducklings and now sells 200 to 250 eggs daily on average, alongside ducks in wholesale markets. Rajshahi Divisional Director of the Department of Livestock Dr Ananda Kumar Adhikery said many people in the region have found the path to be self-reliant through duck and poultry farming. "We are providing technical support and consultation services to farmers to expand this sector," he said.