With the competitive world, rearing of turkey birds has brought diversification to the existing field of poultry birds farming as many people have changed their fortunes through farming of the non conventional bird in the region, including its vast Barind tract.

Meanwhile, the grassroots farmers, particularly the ethnic minority and other marginalized ones, have been rearing the bird side by side with other native ones after taking advantage of more profit commercially boosting its popularity among the farmers and consumers.

Turkey bird rearing across the Barind  track  is gradually gaining popularity in the region as it is more profitable than other poultry farms along with low farming costs, taking less space for rearing the birds and less risk of diseases.

Farmer of Dargapara area under Bagmara upazila, has been operating a turkey bird farm successfully. After starting the business with 45 birds, he’s now the owner of 120 birds worth around Taka 3.5 lakh with a gap of only three to four months.

With his curiosity, he had bought turkey chicks from Joypurhat and the birds started laying eggs at the age of three months. He said the eggs are being hatched in an incubator machine. He is earning more than Taka one lakh through selling both adult birds and chicks per month.

Azizul Alam Bentu, another Turkey bird farmer in Haragram area of Rajshahi city, said farming of the bird is suitable for small and marginal farmers as it can be easily grown in an open space or under a semi intensive system.

He started the farm with 43 turkey chicks a year ago. In nine months, he started selling chicks and eggs. He said that currently there are 415 big turkey birds, 275 chicks on his farm. He gets 125 to 150 eggs per day.

Bentu said that many people, especially youths and housewives are building farms taking eggs and chicks from him. Every day, people come from neighboring areas to take eggs, chicks and advice about turkey farming. He said one pair of chick aged one month can be sold at Taka 2,000, and for two months, it can be sold at Taka 3,000.

Apart from Ashraful Islam and Bentu, many others, including youths and housewives, have brought happiness in their respective families through turkey birds farming in the region. Divisional Deputy Director of the Department of Livestock Services Dr Nazrul Islam said turkey birds grow very fast in a short duration. Currently, every kilogram of turkey meat in the market is being sold at Taka 500 to Taka 550.

In five months, the weight of a turkey bird stands five to six-kg, whose market value is Taka 3000 to 3500. Besides, the expenditure of turkey farming is very low. The birds eat the same foods that are available in the market for other poultry chicken.

Turkey birds also eat grass and vegetables. As a result, farmers do not have to depend only on the market’s food. Dr Islam added that it can be kept in open areas. The possibility of contracting diseases to turkey birds is less. So it needs less medicine.

Prof Dr Jalal Uddin Sarder, Dean of Veterinary and Animal Science Faculty at Rajshahi University, said turkey bird farming is gaining popularity among youths and housewives in the area.

Commercial turkey farms have been developed in the city area and its outskirts as well as different upazilas in the district. More than 200 turkey farms have been established here in the last one year.

Besides, many people have started keeping the bird in their houses on asmall-scale. He also said substantial and sustainable farming of the birds can be the vital means of poverty reduction with ensuring the supply of safe and quality poultry meat and eggs. Meat of turkey birds contain very low-fat, so its consumption is good for health.

Dr Jalal Sarder mentioned that the bird has been playing a vital role towards bringing diversity in the farming along with its marketing as a whole.