Mirza Abdur Rob Bulbul, Staff Reporter: Chalanbeel is formed by rivers, canals and beels. Bangladesh`s historical Chalanbeel is well-known to the people of the whole country as a storehouse of grain and fish. Bangladesh is an agricultural country, and 80% of the country`s people depend on agriculture for their only livelihood. Agriculture is the main driving force of the overall development of Bangladesh. Currently, as duck farming is profitable, hatcheries for hatching different types of ducklings are being established in this area day by day. According to the information of the animal resource officers of the respective Upazilas of Chalanbeel area, there are about 900 hatcheries for hatching ducklings in the beel area. The 9 Upazilas of Chalanbeel area are Tarash, Ullapara, Shahjadpur, Faridpur, Bhangura, Chatmohar, Gurudaspur, Singra and Atrai. Hundreds of people from different parts of the country come to this area every day to buy different varieties of ducklings. They buy thousands of ducklings from hatcheries every day. Currently, as duck farming is profitable, the demand for ducklings is increasing day by day. About 10 (ten) thousand families are directly and indirectly involved in this profession. The duck hatchery in the Chalanbeel area has provided employment to 10 (ten) thousand unemployed boys and girls in this area. The locals firmly believe that these duck hatcheries will play a leading role in the overall economic development of the country. Especially in Moheshrouhali village of Naogaon union of Tarash upazila, various varieties of duckling production farms (hatcheries) have been established. Moheshrouhali has become a famous place or market in the whole country for the production and sale of ducklings. In the last 10 years, about 110 duckling production farms (hatcheries) have been established in this village, both small and large. It is known that the farm owners here used to work in other professions or do business. These farms have become known in the society as duckling hatcheries. For the first time, 22 years ago, Md. Alim Fakir (45) established a duckling farm in Moheshrouhali village. His farm (hatchery) is the largest farm (hatchery) in the Chalanbeel area. He told this reporter that an average of 5 (five) to 10 (ten) thousand eggs is hatched in this hatchery every day during the duck hatching season. Each chick is sold at a price of 32/- to 35/- taka. The best time to hatch ducklings is from Falgun to Ashwin every year. Apart from this, several other farm owners have established themselves in this village, namely, Alamin Fakir, Ripon Fakir, Altab Fakir, Mostofa Prang. These farmers buy eggs from different areas of Pabna, Singra, Natore, Faridpur, Rajshahi and Tarash Upazilas of Sirajgonj districts. Traders from all districts of Bangladesh buy ducklings produced by hatcheries wholesale and retail and take them to different parts of the country. Some traders buy ducklings from them and ferry them to villages and sell them. Meanwhile, traders and farmers from different areas directly come to Moheshrouhali village and buy ducklings. It is also known that there are some hatcheries producing ducklings in other villages of this upazila. When investigating the information on the spot, it is seen that rural women are buying ducklings. After talking to several women, it was found that since duck farming is profitable, they buy 100 to 200 ducklings. They said that they will raise these ducks in the hope of additional income for the family. When I spoke directly to Dr. Md. Aminul Islam, the Animal Resources Officer of Tarash Upazila, in this regard, he said very sincerely that if any farmer comes to me regarding duck farming, he will be provided with all possible support and necessary medicines.