Nahid Islam of Hetalia village in Patuakhali Sadar upazila is seeing success from commercial quail farming. His farm now has 3,200 quails. Seeing it, many unemployed young men in the area are becoming interested in rearing quail, and a local market for quail meat and eggs has emerged.

Nahid Islam, son of Mainul Islam Swapan of the Hetalia Bandhghat area of Patuakhali Sadar upazila, started keeping 16 quails in a small cage as a hobby three years ago. Despite various difficulties he did not give up, and concentrated on rearing the birds and producing eggs. At first his family did not take it well, but now Nahid keeps 3,200 quails in two sheds. The farm produces more than 2,500 eggs every day.

Local people and many others come to see the quail farm every day. Many take advice from Nahid, collect chicks and are encouraged to rear quail themselves. Table-ready quails are currently selling at Tk 60 each, and eggs at Tk 12 a hali (four).

Nahid Islam said a quail lays about 200 eggs a year, each weighing 15 to 20 grams. Quails start laying from two months of age. He now plans to buy a hatching machine to produce chicks as well.

Patuakhali district livestock officer Dr Md Fazlul Haque Sardar said quail meat can play a good role in meeting the demand for protein. As feed costs for quail are low, it is a profitable business, and the district livestock department is helping everyone in this, he said.

There is now demand for quail eggs and meat in different parts of the district, and quail meat is also being sold in hotels and restaurants around the district.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.