Shaistaganj/Habiganj/Representative/

A regional duck breeding farm was established 20 years ago in Biramchar area of Shaistaganj upazila of Habiganj. The purpose of which was to produce babies from the farm. But after a few years of operation the farm stopped due to various crises. And in this, various equipment including incubators and generators for hatching babies have been wasted over the years. However, the authorities concerned say that soon the parts will be repaired and the production of ducklings will start.

It is known that, with the aim of creating employment for unemployed people, the Department of Animal Resources has established a regional duck breeding farm by spending crores of rupees. The farm was established in 2003 but operations started in 2006. After that, ducklings were produced there only for 3 years. Since 2009, due to various crises, baby production has stopped. However, later the authorities took the initiative to re-expand the farm.

In late 2012, the farm was expanded to cover 3 acres. An office building, hatchery building, store building, dormitory building, pump house, 8 breeders, grower and layer sheds and garage and night guard room were constructed. Along with this, two hatchery incubators worth about one and a half crore rupees were installed here. It was officially restarted in 2017. The operation has started but the production of babies has not started. Only about a few thousand ducks are being reared there. From which only 300 pieces of eggs are produced daily.

Locals complain that the authorities are selling the eggs from the farm to the villagers at a fair price, instead of giving them. There are allegations of taking a large amount of money in return. Meanwhile, the government spent crores of rupees to set up regional duck breeding farms with the intention of thinking about the poor, but it did not yield any benefit. Meanwhile, not only incubators for hatching babies, but also generators, the sheds are getting damaged due to not being used day after day after year.

Local people said that the government has established it with the aim of creating jobs for the unemployed people including common villagers. However, due to the negligence of the authorities, the project never saw the light of day. Even though they are supposed to get eggs from here at a fair price, the concerned are not able to provide them as per the demand. They said that crores of rupees of wealth are being lost due to non-operation of the farm for years. The doors and windows of different places of the shed are falling apart. Apart from this, weeds are growing around the sheds. Locals feel that it will be completely destroyed if the authorities do not take proper measures.