STUDY ON HOUSE-HOLD DUCK REARING SYSTEM AT SOME SELECTED AREAS IN MURADNAGAR UPAZILLA UNDER COMILLA DISTRICT IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the status of household ducks rearing systems at some selected areas (Muradnagar upazilla under Comilla district) of Bangladesh. Beside this, socio-economic conditions of the farmers, feeding system and availability of feed for raising ducks, productive performances of scavenging ducks and profitability of raising those ducks were evaluated. Information was collected by direct interview method using a questionnaire from 20 households (mostly women) that rear ducks in the study area. The level of education of women beneficiaries varied from primary to higher secondary. Most of the duck rearers (15%) were found illiterate. 55% farmers had a patch of cultivable land (Average 20 decimal). The average farm size was 12 and it always remains variable with the duck’s loss attributed to different causes. Around 20% of the farmers reared duck with hen. 40% of the farmers housed their ducks in bamboo made cage while the rest of the farmers kept ducks in house made of wood, tin, straw or mud. The mature ducks were highest (74.2%) in October –December and lowest (45.2%) in April-June. Duck reaches first laying at 6 months of age, produces average 85 eggs per year. Egg production reaches peak during winter especially after crop-harvesting season. Duck consumption by the household especially in winter is highest in Muradnagar Upazilla under Comilla district. Around 85% of the respondents fed their birds with mixture of boil rice and rice polish as it is available and cheap. 90% respondents said that they do not spend any money on supplementary feed. The mortality rate was 19% and it is highest in winter (27%). Duck were vaccinated against duck plague on day between 15 and 31 for the first and between 35 and 46 for the booster dose. Around 72% households sold eggs to the local market and 20% sold to the bepari and others. Total annual expenditure and annual income per duck were on an average 119.15Tk and 220.69Tk respectively where as family wise annual expenditure and income were 857.9Tk and 1661.09 Tk. respectively.