Mosammat Momtaz Begum has emerged as a successful woman entrepreneur in Patuakhali by rearing Black Bengal goats. Starting with a loan of Tk 9,000 from the Social Development Foundation (SDF), she purchased a single mother goat. Within just three years, her farm has grown to 67 goats. Her remarkable journey has transformed her financial condition, making her self-reliant. From an initial investment of Tk 9,000, she now earns hundreds of thousands of taka. Inspired by her success, many unemployed women in the area are becoming entrepreneurs by establishing their own goat farms with her guidance. As a result, she is now widely recognized as a model woman entrepreneur in her community. Momtaz Begum, aged 48, hails from Nizampur village under Mohipur Union in Kalapara Upazila of Patuakhali district. She married Md. Khorshed Alam around 1992. The couple has three daughters, two of whom are married, while the youngest is studying in the seventh grade. With limited land-only a homestead on 20 decimals-the family struggled financially. Her husband's small-scale fish fry business could barely support the household. Determined to improve their situation, Momtaz ventured into goat farming in 2022. Momtaz stated that she now lives comfortably and supports her family through goat farming. She believes that if rural women take initiatives alongside their husbands, poverty can be significantly reduced. Her husband, Md. Khorshed Alam, said he encouraged her initiative and helped her purchase a quality breeding buck, which contributed to the farm's success. However, he noted that expanding the farm is challenging due to limited space and fodder shortages.
Neighbor Mahinur Begum praised Momtaz's achievements, saying her success has inspired many local women to start goat farming.
Chittaranjan Biswas, Cluster Officer of SDF's Nilganj branch in Kalapara, confirmed her success and described her as a model entrepreneur. He noted that her achievement has motivated many unemployed women in the region.
Patuakhali District Livestock Officer Dr. Md. Habibur Rahman stated that the number of women entrepreneurs in the district is increasing. He highlighted that the Black Bengal goat is highly suitable for the region, contributing to poverty alleviation and employment.
