Duck farming at model steel village

Rourkela, Feb 10 (PTI) A pilot project on "duck farming"at its model steel village "Bankibahal" has been initiated byRourkela Steel Plant (RSP) for enhancing the income generationopportunities of the residents of the peripheral village.

The sleepy village in Kuarmunda block of Sundargarhdistrict is surrounded by about five acres of water body. Inorder to utilise the natural resources for the advantage ofthe villagers, RSP provided ducklings of an improved breed"khaki compbell" to 50 families, RSP sources said.

Each family got 30 ducklings with feed for five months,till the ducks start laying eggs. Besides, sheds for the duckswas provided to them.

Before the commencement of the project the beneficiarieswere trained on different aspects of duck rearing like feed,medication, health and hygiene of the birds by experts. Thebirds are now ready to lay eggs.

According to experts, each female duck of this improvedvariety can lay about 300 eggs per annum. Hence thebeneficiaries will to get double benefit. On one hand theywill be earning by selling eggs and chicks while on the otherhand they can further increase their farm size by rearing theoffspring, officials said. .