Bondita Kowar was distressed about the livelihood situation of her family due to the lockdown and pandemic situation. Her family was dependent on the 0.5 acre of family land for paddy which was not sufficient. The husband, a smallholder farmer used to do agriculture in one season and work in other’s land for their survival. Worried about her children’s future: “She felt like doing something.”

The following month, ten women along with Bondita from the Gurigaon village in Morigaon District, Assam gathered to form a group for income generation Activity. Guwahati Gana Seva Society (GGSS), a Caritas India partner for the FARM NE programme facilitated the team to identify a workable and feasible income generation activity. “We met Bondita and helped her to introspect with her group members to see what scopes are available for them, as a group,” said Prabin Minj, Coordinator, GGSS.

The group decided to pursue duck farming due to its better market demand. They also identified a neighbour who was willing to offer space for duck rearing by the edges of their fishpond. Setting up a duckery at the edge of the pond is beneficial as the droppings from the duckery is a good source of food for the fishes. The group has contributed bamboo, tin sheets, and labour to make the duck shed. GGSS under the Covid 19 response carried of FARM programme supported this initiative by providing 30 ducklings to the group with a condition that they would return the same number of ducks in one year time so that other families or groups can be supported. The response was carried out during July to August 2020. The group readily agreed and initiated duck rearing in August 2020.

GGSS has supported the group by providing training on duckery. The FARM Northeast program in its earlier phase has promoted lead farmers who can be torchbearers and leaders to train the community. One such Expert farmer from another village conducted training on how to take care of ducks, the kind of feed, medicine and vitamins which needs to be given to prevent them from various sicknesses and ensure healthy growth. This farmer expert is well trained in duck farming & livestock management once he was part of trainings conducted by the AH & Vety Department. FARM has been encouraging local resource persons since its inception and these local resource persons are thoroughly trained by the experts first.

Within few months, the group sold Rs. 6,600/- worth of eggs and also used some for self-consumption and also kept some for brooding in the next batch. The group unanimously decided to reinvest the whole amount in the next back so the member can start reaping better benefits in future. It is expected that by the next 5 to 6 months the group will be in a position to sell ducks at a price of minimum Rs 400 per Kg and this would take the income to their expected levels or even more.

The group members are very happy with the development as they have found a way that will help them to earn some income to support their family. This initiative looks very promising, and they are doing something that is not so complicated.

In days to come, they will hand over 30 ducks to support a new group. The group members are also taking initiative to develop their backyard kitchen garden, preserve indigenous seeds, cultivate seasonal vegetables throughout the year, and introduce nutritional fruit-bearing trees, a wild edible and medicinal plants in their improved kitchen garden. They are exploring other possibilities as well for the source of income and means of livelihood.

Bondita is leading the ground from the front and Caritas India salutes her for braving the odds. “We are very happy with the development so far, we are doing it slowly but steadily, the work has been divided among the group member, and is regularly monitored by every one of us. We are not going to stop here as we discuss among ourselves regarding the expansion of our farm in every possible way,” says beaming Bondita.

“Along with duck farming, we are learning new things and are putting those into practice, we are also exploring every possibility through in the field of the farm that could give us income,” added Bondita.