By Md Aynal Haque
 
RAJSHAHI, Jan 31, 2024 (BSS) - Raihan Kabir, a farmer of Kharibona village under Nachole upazila, has set an example of becoming self-reliant through a vermicomposting farm in his dwelling house.
 
Raihan started his venture with 2,000 earthworms in five earthen pots in 2017. So far, he has sold 2,100 kilograms of vermicompost worth around Tk 27,300 to the local farmers.

Another 600 kilograms remains stockpiled for selling. In the last one year, he has enhanced the number of earthen pots to 63 from the initial stage of only five to farm vermicompost.
 
Jahangir Alam, 35, of Shinghamara village under Mohanpur upazila in the district has become almost self-reliant through manufacturing vermicompost.

With his wife Sahar Banu's close collaboration, he established a household factory for producing organic fertilizer.
 
Vermicompost fertiliser, one kind of organic fertiliser made from earthworm, has started becoming popular in the region.
 
Jahangir Alam couple is now an ideal figure in their village as they spread the light of knowledge of becoming self-reliant by teaching the production methods of vermicompost fertilizer to put an end to their hardship.
 
They have a plan to give training free of cost to 10 women in each of the villages under their upazila and help them set up firms for producing vermicompost fertilizer.
 
The couple urged the government to give them financial support to expand their firms as they have planned to produce 400 maunds vermicompost fertilizer per day.
 
The knowledge of vermin composting started offering a brighter life to Shah Alam and his wife Momtaz of Mohishkundi village under the same upazila ending their dark times of miseries, hunger and uncertainty.

Apart from the aforesaid Raihan, Jahangir and Shah Alam, many other farmers are seen building their fortunes through making and selling vermicompost as its use has been rising for crop and vegetable production gradually for the last couple of years.
 
The venture is contributing a lot towards lessening the gradually mounting pressure on chemical fertilizer in the region, including its vast Barind tract.
 
Couple of years back, Karigorpara village under Paba Upazila in the district, has been declared as a village of vermicompost production and use hundred percent with the banner of "Sustainable Eco-friendly Agriculture System".
 
No more chemical fertilizer is being used in farming fields in the village and vermicomposts are being utilised hundred percent in production.
 
Around 40 male and female farmers are engaged in production of vermicompost and all the farming families have been using the organic fertilizer in crop fields in the village for the last seven years.
 
Jabbar Ali, a farmer of the village, said he has been engaged in production and marketing of vermicompost since 2017. He earns Taka 12,000 per month after selling the organic fertilizer on an average.
 
Some other farmers, including Momena Begum, Sultan Ahmed and Amrita Sarker, also attained significant success in the field of vermicompost production and selling.
 
Upazila Agriculture Officer Farzana Tasnim said they are motivating and encouraging farmers to use organic fertilizer instead of chemical fertilizers in the farming fields.
 
She said only earthworm and cow-dung are used in producing vermicompost fertilizer which helps protect the environment, fertility of the land, increase resistance power of crops against diseases and escalate crops production.
 
In addition to the Karigorpara village, vermicomposting has started gaining popularity in many other villages as many farmers are showing interest towards setting up vermicompost hatchery and farms due to its lucrative outputs.