Housewife earns Tk 4,000 a month by making fish feed

Nazma Begum making fish feed on the court yard. PHOTO: STAR

"I needed to do something to supplement my family income for education of my children but many in the area had opposed", Nazma, 30, of Sharikkhali village in the Sadar upajila told this correspondent during a visit. The village is about five kilometers from the district town. Nazma, who crossed only primary level education, earns Tk 3000 to Tk 4000 a month by selling fish feed. She adds this to the income of her day laboor husband Khalil Sikder. They are a happy family with two daughters and a son-- Hawa,10, Helal, 8, and Habiba, 5.

"I was inspired by an elderly man--Sapan--, Field Supervisor of Patuakhali-Barguna Aquaculture Extension Project, (PBAEP), assisted by DANIDA.

"He advised me to set up a mini fish feed factory to fulfill my dream of higher education for my children", she said. She bought a manually driven fish feed making machine at Tk1500, borrowed from a relative.

She prepares fish feed from oil cake, dry fish and other ingredients, bought from local market.

She can produce at least 40 kg feed per day and sells it at Tk 20 per kg.

Owners of hatchery and fish farmers buy fish ffeed from her.

There are about 20 fish farmers in her village and all of them collect fish feed from her, Nazma said.