Sri Vijaya Puram, Apr. 13: Mrs. Sudha Rani Biswas, aged 69 years, a resident of Bachara Pahaar, Chouldari village in South Andaman, has become an inspiring example of determination and self-reliance. Through dedication and smart farming practices, she has turned duck rearing into a sustainable source of income, proving that age is no barrier when passion meets opportunity and departmental support.
Mrs. Biswas began on a small scale during the COVID period by procuring 30 Vigova ducklings from the Central Hatchery of the Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services (AH&VS). Encouraged by early profits, she expanded her unit by constructing a duck shed and procuring 100 more ducklings. She adopted a practical strategy — selling male ducks for meat while retaining female ducks for egg production, thus generating income from both sources.
To reduce costs, she innovatively collects waste vegetables from the Chouldari market, boils them, and mixes with rice polish to prepare nutritious feed for her ducks. With consistent hard work and timely technical guidance from the AH&VS Department, she is now earning a steady income through duck farming.
Her success story highlights how small initiatives, supported by the Department, can transform into reliable livelihoods. Mrs. Biswas’s journey serves as a powerful motivation for rural women across the islands to take up duck farming for self-employment and economic independence.
