Black Bengal variety of goat is gaining popularity among the breeders in the district as the she-goat give birth to up to five kids twice a year.

Goat breeders are highly interested in rearing Black Bengal variety, but many of them are upset as the variety is not available everywhere, farmers said.

Azizul Islam, 46, a goat breeder of Uttar Saptana village in Sadar upazila, said he bought a Black Bengal variety she-goat from his relative a year ago. “The goat has given birth to five kids and I have decided to rear all of them instead of selling them,” he said.

Amena Begum, 38, of the same village, said she has been rearing Black Bengal variety goat for the last three years and has been earning Tk 20,000 to Tk 22,000 by selling them every year. “Many interested goat breeders come to me for buying Black Bengal variety goat at high price,” she added.

Nazrul Islam, 52, of Saradubi village in Hatibandha upazila said he got a Black Bengal variety she- goat under Poverty Mitigation Scheme in 2003, and the goat brought a big change in his life. “Now, I am owner of 25 goats of Black Bengal variety. I purchased two bighas of land and built a tin-shed house with the money I got from selling goats,” he said.

Saberul Islam, 48, of Kulaghat village in Sadar upazila said he is interested in rearing Black Bengal variety goat but it is not available. “I rear other varieties of goat, but I get only two kids once a year,” he said.

Hatibandha Upazila Livestock Officer Babul Biswas told this correspondent that Black Bengal variety goats are better than any other variety as breeders get high prices for them. “We provide advice to the breeders on how to rear this variety properly and also provide treatment free of cost,” he added.

District Livestock Officer Dr Nasir Uddin Khan told this correspondent that 25,000 Black Bengal variety she-goats were distributed among ultra-poor families under Poverty Mitigation Scheme in the district between the years 2002 and 2005, but the scheme is inoperative now. “If anyone is interested in rearing this variety of goat he/she can contact Black Bengal variety goat breeders in many villages. If they fail, they can come to us and we will help them to get this variety of goat,” he added.