Poultry farming changes life of a vendor

Once he sold hens door to door, but now he is owner of the largest poultry farm, covering six acres of land, in Baufal upazila under the district. He also grows vegetables and breeds fish.

Saidul Islam Mahmud, alias Ripon Hossain, of Daspara village under Baufal upazila, passed the HSC examination in 1998 but did not continue his education because of poverty. He started selling hens door to door, and set up a small poultry farm on a piece of his father's land in 2000 with only Tk 8,000. Initially, the hens died because of disease, but he did not lose patience.

He started breeding layer and broiler varieties, and set up a fish farm in leased ponds. With the profit, he bought one acre of land and leased five acres. Now he produces over 50 lakh fingerlings per year. He also grows seasonal vegetables on the sides of the ponds.

Earlier, he used to sell poultry and fish in hats and bazaars in the upazila, but now traders from different places come to his farms.

"At one time I didn't know what to do to survive, so I started selling hens door to door after buying them from others. I found it was a profitable business and decided to set up a poultry farm," said Ripon Hossain.

"Finally I could fulfill my dream as there is a big demand for poultry, vegetables and fish in locals markets. I have net income of several lakh taka every year," he said.

Md Mahbub Alam, Baufal upazila agriculture extension officer, said Ripon has become a successful farmer and seeing his success many youths have started poultry farming.