What began as a hobby with a single native chicken has grown into a thriving poultry farm generating over one lakh taka in monthly income for entrepreneur Putul Akter. Inspired by a YouTube video and supported by her family, she turned a small-scale interest into a successful business in Shariatpur's Baliyakandi village, under Binodpur Union.
Putul, wife of Malaysia expatriate Monir Hossain Chowdhury, first bought a chick from her mother’s house four years ago. When the hen began laying eggs, she incubated them herself. After initial setbacks, including losing some chicks to predators, her father-in-law built her a small shed to protect the birds.
Her turning point came after watching a YouTube video of a female university student who became self-reliant through native poultry farming. Inspired, Putul set her sights on establishing her own farm. Her husband recognized her determination and built a larger farm to support her vision.
Despite facing some early losses, she sought advice from an experienced poultry farmer and refined her methods. Today, her farm houses around 1,000 native chickens. She sells chicks, eggs, and mature birds, earning a six-figure monthly income, which she has used to help build a family home.
Putul currently manages 350 parent chickens, with one rooster for every nine hens. She collects around 160 eggs daily, of which 400 are incubated weekly in two automated machines. Each week, she hatches around 350 chicks, which are sold locally and to nearby districts. One-day-old chicks are priced at Tk 60, while 21-day-old chicks sell for Tk 100. Eggs are sold at Tk 80 per half dozen.
Her journey has inspired others in the community to take up native poultry farming. Several neighbors have started small farms, and many more have expressed interest.
“I always wanted to be self-reliant,” Putul said. “I started small and now own a large farm. My husband has supported me from the beginning, and my in-laws help manage the farm. I believe every woman can become self-sufficient if she truly wants to.”
Her father-in-law Morol Chowdhury said, “When my daughter-in-law wanted to start farming, we didn’t stop her. Over time, she has grown the farm on her own, and we are always here to support it. We hope to expand even further.”
Neighbor Taslima Akter added, “Seeing Putul Apa, I’ve started a small poultry farm of my own. If we receive any support or incentives from the livestock office, it would help us grow more.”
District Livestock Officer Dr. Abu Bakar Siddiq praised her success, noting, “Starting with just one chicken, Putul now operates a sizable farm and earns a substantial income from selling eggs, chicks, and mature birds. We are proud of her and always ready to provide support. Others like her will also receive training and assistance from the Department of Livestock Services.”
