Swapna, a landless third-gender person, lives with family on railway land at Mohanpur Milpara in Ullapara upazila, Sirajganj. Watching neighbours keep goats sparked an interest, and Swapna’s father bought two. With regular care those two have grown into a farm of 18.
The farm holds Tota, Haryana, Beetal, Jamunapari and Black Bengal goats, among other breeds. Swapna says each animal is worth Tk 1 lakh to Tk 1.5 lakh on the market. Breeding services from the farm’s bucks bring in about Tk 1,400 to Tk 1,500 a day, and selling animals ready for market at the end of the year adds good money.
Last year ten goats were sold in Chattogram around various Puja festivals for a total of Tk 7.10 lakh, income that Swapna says made it possible to recover.
Swapna recalls once having to ask others for help to live, and hearing insults and negative remarks. Those experiences led to a decision to earn a living rather than hold out a hand. The farm is now one of Swapna’s main sources of income.
With government help and training, Swapna hopes to expand it, securing an income and fulfilling a wish to live with dignity in society.
Photo: Mamun2a / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.5)
Source: Krishi Shomoy
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