Household Duck Rearing System and Their Comparative Performance Analysis : A Study in Laksam Upazila, Cum

Abstract

The study was conducted to know the present status, existing production system of duck and assess the potentiality of duck rearing in rural areas of Cumilla district in Bangladesh. Data were collected randomly from 50 duck rearing farmers using a pre-tested interview schedule during 13th October to 12th December, 2019 from several villages under Laksam Upazila of Cumilla. 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. In the study area most of the farmers were women. The level of education of farmers varied from primary to higher secondary. Most of the duck rearers (65%) were found primary educated. The average farm size was 75 (Stocking Density) and it always remains variable with the duck’s loss attributed to different causes. About 40% of the farmers housed their ducks in wood and tin made cage while the rest of the farmers kept ducks in house made of bamboo, tin, brick or mud. Duck reaches first laying at 6 months of age, produces average 110 eggs per year. Egg production reaches peak during winter especially after crop-harvesting season. Approximately 10% 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 mainly. Around 80% 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 453-taka and 1450 taka, respectively. It can be concluded that duck rearing knowledge of the farmers such as breeding, feeding, housing, prevention and control of diseases are not satisfactory of this area. Introducing of improved duck breeds/varieties, training to duck farmers, ensuring vaccination to ducks, financial and technical support to the farmers could increase the duck rearing with increased household income and employment to youth, rural women and the small-holder marginal farmers.