Cost-benefit analysis of the backyard duck production systems in the rural areas of Bangladesh: A study in Laksam upazila, Comilla

Abstract

The study was conducted to explore the present status, production practices and cost-benefit analysis of the existing backyard duck rearing systems in the rural areas of Comilla district, Bangladesh. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a simple random sampling technique, and data were collected directly from the duck farmers through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire during 13th October to the 12th December 2019 from 4 villages under Laksam upazila of Comilla district. Socio-economic status of the duck farmers, feeding systems of ducks, availability of feeds for raising ducks, productive performance of scavenging ducks and cost-benefit analysis of raising ducks were evaluated. Results indicated that most of the duck farmers (56%) were middle-aged (25-50 years). About 66.0% of them had only primary education. The majority of them (56%) were landless. Only 18.0% of them owned large duck flocks (75-200). The ducks attained sexual maturity at the age of 6.0 months and produced on average 110 eggs per year. Egg production reached the peak during the winter season, especially after crop-harvest. Approximately, 10% of the respondents did not spend any money on supplementary feeding. The mortality rate was 19% which reached the peak during the winter season (27%). The ducks were vaccinated mostly against duck plague. Around 80% of the households sold eggs to the local market and 20% to the wholesalers and other local dealers. On average, total gross expenditure and annual income per duck were 453.0 and 1450.0 BDT, respectively. It was concluded that the knowledge of the duck farmers related to the housing, feeding, breeding, prevention and control of duck diseases was not satisfactory. The introduction of improved duck breeds, training of the duck farmers, easy access to vaccination, financial and technical support to the farmers could boost up the productivity of the rural ducks.