Hye Mia, 34, of Uttar Ghagoa village in Gaibandha Sadar upazila knows what it's like to be poor and unemployed. Fortunately, it seems the directionless years of struggle which characterised his young adulthood, are finally behind him. Through the establishment of a duck hatchery and farm, accompanied by solid perseverance, Hye has achieved solvency, with the promise of a more prosperous future.

“Even just five years ago our family was gripped by poverty,” he recalls. “My father had no land and worked as a labourer. I couldn't continue my education for lack of money and though I tried to complete the Secondary School Certificate examination in 2010, I was unsuccessful.”

“With nothing better to do I went to Dhaka to work as a rickshaw driver for two years,” he says.

“I earned a little money and subsequently returned home in the hope of starting some small trade.

I had no experience with poultry but after taking advice from a friend I invested my savings in buying fifty ducklings, to raise the ducks in our yard.” 

Unfortunately, Hye's initial foray into duck-rearing was destined to fail. “I worked hard but fortune betrayed me and I lost Tk 10,000 in that first year. I can't tell you how frustrating it was,” he says. “I lost all my self-confidence.”

Sometimes in the midst of the deepest darkness, in days of greatest hopelessness, one's most ardent supporters have the chance to prove themselves. It was Hye's wife, Asha Moni, who encouraged her husband to try again. She borrowed Tk 10,000 from a local women's association to help him establish a duck hatchery for a second time.

One kilometre from Dariyapur Bazar, Hye then established the Akash Duck Hatchery. With a painful lesson in failure behind him but with some experience gained, he strove once more to find the path to success. This new journey was not without challenge.

 “We couldn't procure a modern incubator for hatching the eggs,” says Asha, “but I was able to introduce a natural system using husk to foster hatching and health in the newborn ducklings.”

Nonetheless, the mortality problem, to a lesser extent, persists. “It is still difficult to maintain an environment that favours newborn duckling survival,” says Hye. “Many die within the first twenty-four hours.”

Yet with a greater focus on the health of the birds, the hatchery has been able to sustain the loss.

Where first efforts failed, second time around the hatchery made an initial profit of Tk 15,000. “I try my best to care for the ducks,” says Asha, “I supply food and medicines.”

Thankfully, over time their business has grown. Both ducklings and eggs sell well in the market and the couple's hatchery has a population of over 500 birds.

Locally, Hye has established a reputation as a duck farmer. “Akash Duck Hatchery is nowadays well-known,” Hye says proudly. “Many people visit every day to collect ducklings and eggs direct. I will continue to expand, and hope to set up more hatcheries in the future.”

Moreover Hye's venture has inspired others. “I wasted too much time running after jobs,” says neighbour Sumon Mia. “I was never able to earn a decent income. I too am now trying my hand at duck husbandry.”

For Hye's family the hatchery's success has made a world of difference. “My two children study in school. We don't live in poverty anymore.” Indeed, Akash now employs five others.