Thousands of extreme poor people at different remote villages and char areas under the district are becoming financially benefited through rearing goat in recent years.
Some of the goat rearers said they gather grass and other fodder for their livestock from different areas. But during rainy season they face difficulties to collect fodder. They use stocked fodder for their domestic animals during monsoon, they added.
Talking to The Financial Express Fatema Begum (50), a goat rearer at Nazirdaho village under Kawnia upazila said she first started goat rearing with only one pair of goat. "I had been passing hard days in acute poverty after being deserted by my husband 15 years ago who married another woman. After struggling for few years I began goat rearing taking financial help from some of my relatives and thus found the way to get rid of extreme poverty", Fatema also said. So far she has sold some 20 to 25 goats and presently she has more than 35 goats, she added.
Saleha Begum (30) of Soudpara village under Gangachara upazila, said earlier, it was so difficult to maintain their insolvent family of 5 members with her husband's paltry amount income who was a day labourer. With the aim to salvage her family she began goat rearing and witnessed tremendous success.
At the initial stage she had only two goats six years ago and at present she now has 20 goats and earns around Tk 30,000 to Tk 40,000 from the sale of goats every year. A major amount of the money is spent for education of her three children. Thus she found the way to change their socio-economic condition, she added.
"We do not face financial problems in our education as our mother fulfills our requirements," said Hasanur (13), son of Saleha adding that they sometime help their mother in caring for the goats.
Hashem Mia (50), husband of Saleha said that he sometimes takes money from his wife if needed. Goat rearing has become really lucrative for his impoverished family, he added.
District Livestock Office sources said a good number of families at different remote as well as char areas under the district rear different domestic animals including goats. Livestock officials visit those areas and provide adequate support to the people for rearing domestic animals properly, sources added.
