Countless mice scurry about inside the cages, like a kingdom of mice. Without any training, Labony Akter has become self-reliant by rearing Swiss albinos, a popular breed from Switzerland, having learned from Google and YouTube. The housewife began with four mice as a hobby; her farm now has about 400, and she earns at least Tk 20,000 a month from selling them. Local people have praised the venture as a way to beat unemployment.

Labony Akter lives in the Tulashar area of Shariatpur municipality. She studied zoology at Khilgaon Model College in Dhaka. After marrying in 2016 she was fully occupied with the household and her children, but she always wanted to stand on her own feet.

A year ago her husband, Rakibul Islam, bought four mice from Kataban in Dhaka and gave them to her as a present. That was the start of the farm. The beginning was a little troublesome, but by watching Google and YouTube she became a full-fledged mouse rearer. Her husband and family members always encouraged and helped her, and she has not looked back.

Her 40 parent mice now produce about 200 young a month, which she sells to laboratories and other farms. After costs she earns at least Tk 20,000 a month. Her mice are sold to hobby farms and zoos in Dhaka, Narayanganj and other districts.

"After finishing my studies I thought I would take a job," Labony Akter said. "Working while running a household and looking after children is very hard. I always wanted to be self-reliant. Then, encouraged by my husband, I started rearing mice. Gradually there were many of them. Now I am self-reliant from selling mice. In future I want to make the farm bigger, which will create jobs for unemployed young men and women."

Her mother-in-law, Nasima Akter, said: "When my son first brought mice from Dhaka, I wondered whether these could be reared at all. Now I see that you can earn money from them. I am always beside my daughter-in-law helping her."

Local resident Zahid Hasan Rony said: "A woman tried to become an entrepreneur by watching YouTube, without training, with help from her husband and mother-in-law. She now earns Tk 20,000 a month rearing mice, which can make her an icon for society. The administration should give her financial help to expand the farm."

Shariatpur Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Elora Yasmin said: "I welcome Labony's initiative. The way her husband and in-laws are supporting her is truly commendable. The venture is undoubtedly unique. The district and upazila administrations are ready to give women entrepreneurs every kind of support. If Labony comes to us, she will be helped as far as possible."

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