Duck Production and Management of Mithapukur Upazila, Rangpur

Abstract

A Study was carried out to evaluate duck production and management practices in Mithapukur Upazila, Rangpur district. Data were collected from 27 different duck farm at different villages and remote area of Mithapukur upazila. There I found About 40% of the farmers have received primary education (Fig.2). About 37% farmers considered Agriculture is their main occupation (Table 2). Most (41%) of the duck house were made of Tin shed and Wood (Table 3). About 60% farmers rearing deshi ducks followed by 18% crossbred (Table 5). About 71% farmers reared their duck in Free range and 29% in semi intensive (Table 4). Duck plague (44%) and cholera (30%) were the common diseases threatening duck production (Table 7) and 60% farmers failed to vaccinate their birds against the major diseases (Table7). Average Duck number per household is 26.07 (Table 6). About 48% farmers feeding their duck is paddy and water (Table 8). The average (41%) duck weight is 1.5-1.6kg (Table 9). Approximately 48% of ducks lay 40-60 eggs per year (Table 9). The average cost of an adult Duck is 518.51 Tk. and average cost of a duckling is 35 Tk. (Table 9). Duck mortality ranged from 0% to 40%, with an average of 19.07% (Table 10). Mongoose and jackal were the main predators that also reason for decrease duck production. Most of the farmers understand that lack of finance, disease outbreak and predators attack, lack of veterinary service were the main challenges for duck production. These constraints and challenges of duck farming mentioned in this study can be addressed properly, the commercial and backyard duck farmers in the Mithapukur upazila could be economically more benefitted. Key