Sheep farming in 364 farms under eight upazilas of the district is effectively contributing to making the rural people, mostly women, self-reliant and revitalising the rural economy.
The Department of Livestock officials said that sheep farming has become a profitable venture in rural areas of the district.
Rural people are farming sheep to as a profitable business and for their own consumption of meat.
鈥淎s a result, many successful men and women who lived in poverty in the past are improving their livelihood quality with their family members,鈥� Rangpur district livestock officer Dr Md Abu Sayeed said.
In addition to family-level sheep farming, 364 private entrepreneurs are currently raising sheep on their farms, creating employment for 1,000 men and women across the district.
鈥淭he total number of sheep in the district stood at 47,943 in 2024, compared to 42,916 in 2019 and the number is increasing every year,鈥� said Dr Sayeed, adding that all necessary assistance and vaccinations for sheep are being provided to the people.
The Department of Livestock has taken comprehensive steps to popularise sheep rearing and meat of sheep and ensure proper use of hair of sheep in making carpet, blanket, mat and other commercial goods.
Talking to BSS, Rashida Begum of Laxmipur village in Ekorchali union of Taraganj upazila said she was married to day-labourer Mansur Ali of the village about 45 years ago.
The couple had no choice but to work as daily laborers to make ends meet for their two sons and a daughter.
At one point, Rashida bought an ewe for Tk 365 about 17 years ago. After six months, the sheep gave birth to four lambs and it gave birth to four more lambs after the next six months.
鈥淢y sheep numbers increased every year and I started selling sheep to cover all our family expenses,鈥� Rashida said.
Currently, she has 45 sheep. Rashida along with her husband is now looking after their sheep full time.
Yunus Ali of Bamandighi village in Taraganj upazila of Rangpur has also changed his fortune by rearing sheep in his farm.
He began the venture with only five sheep bought at Tk 17,000 in February, 2017 after watching a video on YouTube about self-reliance in sheep farming on his neighbor鈥檚 nephew鈥檚 mobile phone.
He started grazing the sheep in the fields and on the roadside. He never looked back. In the first year, the number of five sheep increased to 13.
In this way, the sheep increase every year, the income increases, and the size of the farm increases.
Yunus said, 鈥楽heep give birth every five months. A sheep gives birth to two or three babies at a time. Sheep food is easily available, and it also takes up less space. Sheep food can be obtained by grazing on the roadside and in the fields.
鈥業 have now 100 sheep. Now, I am happy with my wife and children with the income from sheep farming. People in the neighborhood are also buying sheep from me and raising them,鈥� said a smiling Yunus Ali.
Similarly, Monira Begum from Char Gannarpar village in Gangachara upazila said she has attained economic self-reliance by raising sheep at her own initiative.
Monira鈥檚 hardships amidst extreme poverty with her farm labourer husband Alauddin Mia and their two daughters, knew no bounds in the past.
Monira somehow bought three sheep 12 years ago and started taking care of them, after six months, each of the three sheep gave birth to three to four lambs. Within another six months, they gave birth to three to four more lambs, and this process continued for 15 years, completely changing Monira鈥檚 life.
She started selling sheep to meet all her family鈥檚 expenses. Monira built a good house. Now, she has 40 sheep.
District Livestock Officer Dr Md Abu Sayeed suggested people to consume sheep meat which is soft, juicy, easily digestible and high in protein and energy and relatively low in harmful fat and cholesterol.
