Young amateur farmer Shah Alam. Photo : BSS

SUNAMGANJ, Feb 3, 2025 (BSS) – Shah Alam, a young amateur farmer, has become self-sufficient through vegetable farming and now has set an example as ‘the best agriculture entrepreneur’ among jobless youths of the Sunamganj district.

Alam, a young farmer of Majair village under Bishwambarpur Upazila of the district, started cucumber farming on his 15 decimal of land in 2008 and now has become a big entrepreneur through farming of different varieties of vegetables. 

“After concluding study up to class eight, as a jobless youth, I had started cucumber farming on 15 decimal (approximately 9.09 katha) of land in 2008. After gaining profit, I started growing different varieties of vegetables like tomato and cucumber on 60 decimal of land next year,” he said.

After consulting with local agriculture offices, he continues cultivating different kinds of vegetables and seed production by taking lease of agricultural land from his neighbor and other village farmers.

Even Alam starts selling vegetable seedlings from mid-September last year after growing the saplings under poly-shed net house on 10 decimal of land set up by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).

Till February 1 this year, Alam has sold at least 23 lakh seedlings. He earned Taka 45 lakh through from selling of vegetables during the same period.

“I have sold at least 23 lakh seedlings of different vegetables which include 4 lakh tomato seedlings, 2 lakh  chili plants, 14,000 papaya plants, 20,000 bottle guard plants, 60,000 cauliflower plants and 60,000 aubergine  plants,” Alam told BSS.

Now he has been cultivating vegetables on 60 bighas of land at a cost of Taka 42 lakh, said Alam, adding that he has a scope to earn more Taka 30 lakh during this season through selling of vegetables.

A Sylhet-based agriculture development project has given him reception as a best farmer of Sunamganj district.

 Even many youths in the district have been motivated with vegetable farming after evaluating his [Alam’s] success in vegetable farming.

 “After observing Shah Alam’s success in vegetable farming, I have started vegetable growing since 2009 and now I have started vegetable farming on 40 bighas of land,” said Sabuj Mia, another farmer of Meruakhola village under Bishwambarpur upazila.

After being inspired with the success of Shah Alam, about 20-25 youths of different villages of the upazila have been self sufficient through vegetable farming, said Shafiqul Islam, a member of ward no-5 of Polash union.

“Shah Alam of Majair village  is  now a model in vegetable farming in this region,” said Nirmal Chandra Som, deputy director of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Sunamganj.