AN OVERVIEW OF BACKYARD DUCK FARMING IN RURAL AREAS AT CHILMARI UNDER KURIGRAM DISTRICT

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the status of backyard duck farming in selected area (Chilmari Upazilla under Kurigram district) of Bangladesh. The study was conducted on the farmers having at least more than 5 ducks. The data was collected between months of February to April of 2022 from the various Unions of Chilmari Upazilla. 28 farms were selected randomly. This study shows that most of the farmers used their own eggs to produce ducklings (48%) and maximum (64%) farmers are small scale (5-10 ducks) farmers. The number of ducks per farmer was 10.2. Most of farmer rear deshi breed (58%). In terms of housing most of farmers (42%) used bamboo & tin for duck house and (5%) farmers used nothing as bedding material. It was observed that (78%) farmers provided feed twice in a day .In case of adult weight, maximum (49%) farmers got medium (1.5-1.8 kg) adult weight. In case of sexual maturity 71% farmers got early (<180 days) sexual maturity at their farms. In aspect of egg production (57%) farmers got low (80-100) egg production per duck per year. In the parameters of hatchability it showed (52%) farmers got medium (82-86%) hatchability at their farms. In aspect of disease occurrence it was found that (55%) of farmers told that they got duck cholera at their farms which is higher. (11%) of farmers used vaccination to prevent disease, (46%) farmers provided only medication, (17%) farmers provided both medication & vaccination. But (26%) farmers provided nothing for their flock to prevent or control disease. The main problem in case of duck farming is lack of knowledge of farmers about rearing system and breeds of duck. As this study shows less number of farmers provided vaccination and got disease in their farms. So, the vaccination must be ensured to prevent the diseases. Extension work is necessary to improve farmer’s knowledge about appropriate duck rearing system and highly productive duck breeds.