Mushrooms uplifting a community

Farming was not his calling; he actually had stumbled across the idea. And years later, the cool and collected Babul Aktar mastered the art of mushroom farming, which is quite a difficult work.

However, life was not easy for Babul as he grew up in Magura Sadar's Borokhari village.

At the tender age of five, he contacted an infection and his left leg began to swell. He was later diagnosed with elephantiasis with his medical bills becoming a burden on his poor family.

Spending five bed-ridden months in hospital, he underwent surgery at Magura sadar hospital. He was finally cured but his left leg became about four inches shorter than the other one. Babul has limped ever since.

In his adolescence, he worked at a doctor's chamber in the neighbourhood as an assistant to earn some pocket money. There, Dr Habibur Rahman, a general practitioner, suggested he learn farming as he had physical disability.

Babul attended a three-day training on mushroom cultivation in 2006 at the Jashore Horticulture Centre, at the end of which he received 10 seeds and Tk 600. Much trial and error followed but he didn't give up.

Later, he participated in training at Savar on the outskirts of the capital for three months, at the end of which he received Tk 10,000 to start cultivation.

“I officially began mushroom farming in 2007,” said the 30-year-old, who now runs his farm spanning on three acres with 166 employees.

Bearing a monthly payroll of Tk 6.5 lakh, he pays each of his employees Tk 5,000 to Tk 10,000 a month for an eight hour shift a day. The farm manager, Bashudeb Bishash, receives a monthly salary of Tk 25,000.

The farm mainly grows three varieties of the super food -- oyster mushrooms, pink oyster mushrooms and ganoderma. Mushrooms are low in carbohydrates and high in fibre. Low in calories as well, they are a power house of key vitamins and minerals. Mushrooms are often chosen as a vegetarian substitute for meat because they are a significant source of protein.

Mushroom seeds are produced through tissue cultures. One mushroom mother spawn is placed in a single bag of boiled and cooled straw and hay in an air conditioned room for 15 days. The process kills any disease causing germs and softens it as well, said Babul.

Later, the seeds are taken out and planted in shelves in the shade. Labourers spray these with water five to six times a day. The farm has two large sheds and 16 rooms to carry out the cultures and for storage.

“I received the Bangabandhu Krishi National Award for 'Best Entrepreneur' in Magura in March.” Looking forward, Babul wants to export mushrooms and generate employment for hundreds more in his locality. 

On investments made, he said, “I purchased three acres land in Magura district town for Tk 4 crore, and two microbuses and a motor bike to transport the produce.” Wholesalers buy from him directly to supply to restaurants and groceries across Bangladesh.

Doctors across the upazila also buy mushrooms from him to sell to their diabetic patients as it is a filling food, low in sugars.

Babul has a part to play in uplifting the economic fate of his community as a whole.

Suchitra Bashak, Babul's neighbour, said around 50-60 families in the area have picked up mushroom farming with his encouragement. “I earn about Tk 12,000 a month from mushroom farming,” she said.

Joyonti Rani Bashak, also a resident of Borokhari village, said Babul imparts the technical know-how as a means to expanding farming.

Jakia Sultana, Babul's mother, said he has gained expertise with will power and hard work. “He now takes care of us, his wife and son.”

Partho Pratim Saha, deputy director at the Department of Agricultural Extension, Magura, said he is a role model for others. “We have assured him of support, whenever needed.”