Will vermicompost replace chemical fertilisers in Bagerhat?
A growing number of farmers in Bagerhat are now making their own vermicompost, thanks to training and an initial funding from the district's agriculture department, in cooperation with non-government organisations.
Vermicomposting is a process through which earthworms convert organic waste into manure rich in nutritional content, which is then used as fertiliser.
In the last three years, the district's agriculture department, in cooperation with non-government organisations trained a total of 5,195 farmers to set up their own vermicompost units.
Alongside Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Bagerhat, Concern Worldwide, Bangladesh has been implementing Collective Responsibility, Action and Accountability for Improved Nutrition (CRAAIN), an EU-funded Bagerhat-based project, in partnership with WaterAid, Rupantar, and Jagrata Juba Shangha (JJS) to further help farmers of the region in this regard.
"Upon completion of the training, two rings, a slab, 500 grams of earthworms, hand gloves, and ancillary funds are handed over to the participants to establish their own [vermicompost processing] units,'' said Emranul Haq, consortium manager of the CRAAIN project. A total of 960 vermicompost units have been set up in nine upazilas of Bagerhat which produced a total 471 tonnes of compost in the last three years.
According to Bakhtiar Hossain, the chief scientific officer of the soil unit at Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, vermicompost increases the soil's fertility in the long run.
"Vermicompost contains 10 of the 16 nutrients essential for plant growth and the food grown through this agricultural method is very safe and nutritious," he added.
Jasmin Begum, 26, of Barukhali village in Kachua upazila, started her own vermicompost set-up after she completed her training with CRAAIN.
"I got the required machinery and a small amount in cash which helped initiate my own vermicompost unit. Alongside selling the fertiliser which brings me about Tk 1,500-2,000 per month, I also grow different vegetables, including pumpkins, potatoes, and tomatoes, using the compost from, which brings in extra income for my family. My father no longer has to bear my expenses and instead I can help my father financially," said Jasmin who had to move in with her parents after her husband left her.
The fertiliser is sold for around Tk 15-20 per kg depending on quality, and is quickly becoming the preferred fertiliser over chemical fertilisers in the district, say many of the locals who are using vermicompost.
Hedayat Bali of Tangrakhali village in the same upazila produces around three tonnes of vermicompost every month with a compost separator.
"The compost separator ensures that the vermin are active which increases my profit. Around a thousand vermin can produce about two kgs of fertiliser. The process starts with collecting cow manure and is completed within two weeks. I sell each kg of premium quality compost for Tk 20," said Hedayet who has used about six tonnes of his vermicompost to fertilise about 2000 different fruit plants in his orchards this year.
Asad Sheikh, a malta aka sweet orange farmer of the same village, has seen a rise in yield after substituting chemical fertilisers with the locally produced vermicompost.
"I am using about a tonne of vermicompost for my orchard on about 50 decimals of land. I have seen a better yield this year and the growth of the plants is also improving," he added.
Local cultivators are currently producing vegetables on 2,244 hectacres of land using vermicompost out of the 3,880 hectacres of farming land in the district, informed Rafiqul Islam, deputy director of DAE, Bagerhat.
"The vermicompost units have ensured that the fallow lands of the district are utilised in farming. Currently, we have 1,364 houses with nutritional gardens who mostly opt for vermicompost. Even the cow herders are cooperating. It is a united effort that is benefitting everybody," added Rafiqul.
So far, 300 vermicompost entrepreneurs are operating in Mongla, Kachua, Mollahat and Sarankhola upazilas of the district while 15 agro-based small scale entrepreneurs are marketing the manure produced by the local vermicompost units.
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