Vermicompost production, sale grow in Rangpur

About 10,000 farmers across five districts, namely Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari and Rangpur, are benefitting from the production, use and sale of vermicompost, which is a natural fertiliser produced by decomposing organic material using earthworms.

Each farmer annually produces up to 10 tonnes of vermicompost at a cost of Tk 7 per kilogramme (kg), which is then sold for about Tk 12.

Other than the fertiliser itself, the farmers are simultaneously producing as much as 30 kgs of earthworms, which are being sold at Tk 900 to Tk 1,200 per kg.

The use of vermicompost for vegetable cultivation has increased significantly over the years, especially in small and marginal farms, according to sources at the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).

As such, about 55,000 tonnes of the fertiliser are being produced each year against a demand of 75,000 tonnes in the five districts, DAE officials said.

Aduri Begum, a marginal farmer of Bhattapara village in Chilmari upazila of Kurigram, said she produces 200 kgs of vermicompost and 10 kgs of earthworms every three weeks.

"Earthworms, cow dung, eggshells, vegetable waste, used tea leaves and rotting tree bark are decomposed to make vermicompost," Begum added.

She went on to say that she gets the expected profit by selling the vermicompost made at home.

Salimuddin, a marginal farmer of Paschim Sarkarpara village in the same upazila, said a non-government organisation (NGO) had trained them on the method of using earthworms to produce vermicompost.

"We sell vermicompost to local fertiliser dealers while the NGO buys earthworms from us," he added.

Salimuddin then said he is trying to secure more capital to increase production and that some 600 marginal farmers in Chilmari upazila are engaged in making the fertiliser.

Farmers in the region are being trained in vermicompost production through the Sustained Opportunities for Nutrition Governance (SONGO) project.

Under the project, earthworms are bought from trained farmers and distributed among the new ones free of cost.

The project is being jointly implemented by RDRS Bangladesh and CordAid with financial support from the European Union.

Ahsanul Kabir Bulu, project manager, said many marginal farmers are producing vermicompost just to use it on their own small portions of land.

"So, we are helping farmers produce vermicompost to encourage them to grow toxin free vegetables. Currently, the use of vermicompost has increased a lot," he added.

Nazrul Islam, a farmer of Sarpukur village in Aditmari upazila of Lalmonirhat, said he produces 400 kgs of vermicompost every three weeks.

As Islam does not need to purchase the required cow dung, his production cost comes down to about Tk 4 per kg, ensuring that he makes the expected profits.

"I myself am growing vegetables using vermicompost," he added.

Subhash Chandra Sen, a marginal farmer of Madhupur village in Kaunia upazila of Rangpur, said fertiliser traders pay him in advance to buy vermicompost.

Besides, many farmers looking to produce their own fertiliser buy earthworms from him as well.

Habibur Rahman, a fertiliser trader of Chilmari upazila, said he buys vermicompost from farmers for Tk 12 per kg before selling it for Tk 17 per kg.

"The sale of vermicompost has increased manifold over the years," Rahman added, citing how he sells around 6,000 kgs of the fertiliser each month.

Narayan Chandra Barman, a farmer of Mahendranagar village in Lalmonirhat sadar upazila, said he produces vegetables using vermicompost at his homestead.

Barman previously used other fertilisers until he eventually found that vegetables produced using vermicompost provide better yields.

Javed Ali, a farmer of Doljor village in Lalmonirhat's Aditmari upazila, said he has been producing vegetables using the organic fertiliser for the last three years.

He produces some vermicompost at home and meets the rest of his requirement from the local market.

"I am getting good results by using vermicompost in the crop field. The soil fertility is being increased after using the organic fertiliser and I am getting better crop production as a result," he added.

Biplab Kumar Mohanta, deputy director of the DAE in Kurigram, said they alongside various NGOs are encouraging marginal farmers to produce vermicompost.

The use of vermicompost is essential to produce toxin free vegetables.

"Marginal farmers are benefiting from vermicompost production. Many people earn their living from this sector," he said, adding that the use of vermicompost is increasing day by day.