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From hobby pigeons to commercial farms

From hobby pigeons to commercial farms

Shahjahan Ali, Kaliganj, Jhenaidah

02 January 2019, 12:49





That was 8 years ago. Rabiul Islam bought 6 pairs of native breeds of pigeons one by one and brought them home. He had a keen interest in the dove, the symbol of peace. Rabiul Islam's mind was filled when the pair of pigeons started raising their babies one by one. He started selling a pair of baby pigeons for 180 rupees. Then he thought that if pigeons can be reared commercially, then it will be very profitable.

After that he started commercial pigeon farm. Now his farm has about 500 domestic and foreign pigeons including Siraj, Magpie, Owl, Jalali, Giribaj, Lotan, Laksha, King, Ghee Chunni, White King. If you calculate the amount, he has a pigeon worth about 3 lakh rupees.

In the last 3 years, he has sold pigeons worth Tk 2 lakh and given them as gifts to different people. Rabiul Islam is the son of late Chhabed Ali Biswas of Kaklash village in Kaliganj upazila of Jhenaidah district. He has already completed his Masters in Political Science from MM College, Jessore and started a pigeon farm.

On the spot, we went to Rabiul Islam's house in Kaklash village and saw a big tin tent house. Surrounded by wire net. More than 600 wooden pigeon nests have been set up inside. There is a separate iron cage for large foreign pigeons. Below is food and clear water. The pigeons need to eat as much as they can and then fly back to their nests. Someone sitting there is laying eggs. Someone is feeding their baby. Someone is busy arguing with the other.

Domestic and foreign pigeons of different colors including Siraj, Magpie, Owl, Jalali, Giribaj, Lotan, Laksha, King, Ghee Chunni, White Kings are calling differently in different voices in the house.

Rabiul Islam said he has completed his Masters in Political Science from MM College. From a young age, when he was studying at the secondary level, he kept pigeons of the native breed at home, albeit a little. On the one hand, it was a hobby.

On the other hand, some money would also come. With which he used to run his own education. At that time he thought that he would start a big pigeon farm as soon as he got the chance to finish his studies. From that hobby he has become a pigeon farmer today.

Rabiul Islam said, after learning to read, he has not got a job yet. So there is no point in going around. As a result, he has started a pigeon farm with a lot of thought. Besides, he has created his own employment by cultivating various crops in the lands next to his house.

He said domestic and foreign pigeons of different breeds have been collected from different parts of the country including Pabna, Kushtia and Jessore, Faridpur. At present he has more than 500 pigeons of at least 30 breeds in his house. He has invested at least Rs 1.5 lakh. From that pigeon you can now sell babies for around 8 to 10 thousand rupees per month.

Rabiul Islam further said that the pigeon house has to be kept clean and tidy at all times. Otherwise the disease spreads germs. Winter is a very bad time for pigeons. At this time the disease of pigeons is more. Vaccinated every 3 months as an antidote.

He said one pair of pigeons gives birth to at least 7-8 pairs of chicks a year. Now every pair of native breed pigeons is selling for at least 180 rupees. And the price of foreign children is much higher. He also has a pair of pigeons worth 8-10 thousand rupees.

He also has different species of pigeons, pheasants and love birds in his house. Merchants come from home and buy babies. Rabiul said he is thinking of expanding his pigeon farm in the future.

Rabiul's brother Ataur Rahman said, Rabiul has been keeping birds and pigeons since childhood. For this reason, he has often heard insults from his family members. But he never stopped doing his hobby. Today he has a pigeon farm in his house. I am earning a lot of money from there now. Everyone in the house is now cooperating in his work.