Turkey farming spreads wings

Turkey farming is gaining popularity in Gazipur, with more than 40 commercial farms being established in the district in the past one year. Many youths and housewives, too, have started rearing the birds on a small scale in their homes to cash in on the trend.

Farmers said rearing turkeys was more profitable than poultry as the former entailed less investment, less space as well as less risk of diseases. Apart from the economic potential, turkey farming also ensured that the people’s need for protein was met, they added.

The turkey, which is popular in the US and Europe, was first brought to Bangladesh as part of an exotic hobby. But within a short time, it gained popularity among the people, especially youths, who found that the birds made for very profitable business.

Traders said this bird has come as a ray of hope for poultry farmers, who have been battling losses due to the increasing prices of chicken and their feed in recent times. Now, several poultry farmers are taking initiatives to set up new turkey farms.

Mohammed Shakhawat Hossain, a turkey farmer at Sukhondi in Gazipur city, said turkey farming was suitable for small and marginal farmers as it could be easily set up in an open space or under a semi-intensive system, requiring less investment.

“I started my farm with 45 turkey chicks just a year ago. Within nine months, I started earning money by selling chicks and eggs. At present, there are 135 big turkeys and 50 chicks in my farm. I get 25 to 30 eggs per day,” Shakhawat said. “Now, people from the city and nearby areas come to me every day to buy eggs and chicks as well as to take advice about turkey farming,” he added.

Shakhawat said one egg sold for Tk. 300 and one-day-old chicks were priced at Tk. 600. A pair of month-old chicks sold for Tk. 2,200, and the price went up to Tk. 3,000 for two-month-old chicks.

He added that more and more housewives were now interested in setting up their own turkey farms. He said his farm, which started as a hobby, was now getting bigger by the day. “I am reducing the sale of eggs by raising chicks and growing my farm. So far, I have invested nearly Tk. 7 lakh in this farm,” he added. Farmers said turkeys grow very fast within a short time and start laying eggs in seven months, and continue to do so for the next five years. They also resort to incubating the eggs in machines at local poultry farms and hatcheries.

Besides, the expenditure on turkey farming is very low. The turkeys eat the same food that is available in the market for chicken. The birds also eat grass and vegetables. As a result, farmers do not have to depend only on the food available in the market. Moreover, the birds can be kept in open areas, unlike a poultry farm. Also, diseases are rare in turkeys, and this means less medicines.

The farmers, however, complained that there was a problem of spreading turkey farming as it was still not popular among ordinary people. They said many people do not know about the quality of turkey meat, and just buy it out of curiosity.

Turkey farming spreads wings

Turkey farming is gaining popularity in Gazipur, with more than 40 commercial farms being established in the district in the past one year. Many youths and housewives, too, have started rearing the birds on a small scale in their homes to cash in on the trend. Farmers said rearing turkeys was more profitable than poultry as the former entailed less investment, less space as well as less risk of diseases. Apart from the economic potential, turkey farming also ensured that the peoples need for protein was met, they added. The turkey, which is popular in the US and Europe, was first brought to Bangladesh as part of an exotic hobby. But within a short time, it gained popularity among the people, especially youths, who found that the birds made for very profitable business. Traders said this bird has come as a ray of hope for poultry farmers, who have been battling losses due to the increasing prices of chicken and their feed in recent times. Now, several poultry farmers are taking initiatives to set up new turkey farms. Mohammed Shakhawat Hossain, a turkey farmer at Sukhondi in Gazipur city, said turkey farming was suitable for small and marginal farmers as it could be easily set up in an open space or under a semi-intensive system, requiring less investment. I started my farm with 45 turkey chicks just a year ago. Within nine months, I started earning money by selling chicks and eggs. At present, there are 135 big turkeys and 50 chicks in my farm. I get 25 to 30 eggs per day, Shakhawat said. Now, people from the city and nearby areas come to me every day to buy eggs and chicks as well as to take advice about turkey farming, he added. Shakhawat said one egg sold for Tk. 300 and one-day-old chicks were priced at Tk. 600. A pair of month-old chicks sold for Tk. 2,200, and the price went up to Tk. 3,000 for two-month-old chicks. He added that more and more housewives were now interested in setting up their own turkey farms. He said his farm, which started as a hobby, was now getting bigger by the day. I am reducing the sale of eggs by raising chicks and growing my farm. So far, I have invested nearly Tk. 7 lakh in this farm, he added. Farmers said turkeys grow very fast within a short time and start laying eggs in seven months, and continue to do so for the next five years. They also resort to incubating the eggs in machines at local poultry farms and hatcheries. Besides, the expenditure on turkey farming is very low. The turkeys eat the same food that is available in the market for chicken. The birds also eat grass and vegetables. As a result, farmers do not have to depend only on the food available in the market. Moreover, the birds can be kept in open areas, unlike a poultry farm. Also, diseases are rare in turkeys, and this means less medicines. The farmers, however, complained that there was a problem of spreading turkey farming as it was still not popular among ordinary people. They said many people do not know about the quality of turkey meat, and just buy it out of curiosity.