A farmer's passion

On my way from Cox's Bazaar to Chittagong recently, I stopped at Eid Garh in Ramu upazila to meet a young agricultural entrepreneur named Rahimullah. He started his Baukul (bau-plum) orchard and it wasn't successful. As a development journalist, I don't generally feature stories of failures- I try to look at the irregularities and crisis and also to try to find the right solutions. But Rahim is unique. He travelled to the Middle East to work a decade back, where he was a construction worker. He worked very hard for a long time and earned pretty well.

He used to watch the success stories of farmers on our programme and was inspired by the episodes on high value fruit: Baukul. He came back to Bangladesh and invested in Baukul orchard with his friends. Despite his efforts, he could not succeed. On today's article we will all try to find a solution for this young farmer.

Rahim's Baukul orchard on 40 kani land is now a big burden for him. This orchard is his life. This size of the land is massive and would be a dream come true for any farmer. But this is not true in Rahim's case. I was talking with him, listening to the stories about how the dream started. Rahim is the hero who turned this barren place into greenery.

On my way from Cox's Bazaar to Chittagong recently, I stopped at Eid Garh in Ramu upazila to meet a young agricultural entrepreneur named Rahimullah. He started his Baukul (bau-plum) orchard and it wasn't successful. As a development journalist, I don't generally feature stories of failures- I try to look at the irregularities and crisis and also to try to find the right solutions. But Rahim is unique. He travelled to the Middle East to work a decade back, where he was a construction worker. He worked very hard for a long time and earned pretty well.

He used to watch the success stories of farmers on our programme and was inspired by the episodes on high value fruit: Baukul. He came back to Bangladesh and invested in Baukul orchard with his friends. Despite his efforts, he could not succeed. On today's article we will all try to find a solution for this young farmer.

Rahim's Baukul orchard on 40 kani land is now a big burden for him. This orchard is his life. This size of the land is massive and would be a dream come true for any farmer. But this is not true in Rahim's case. I was talking with him, listening to the stories about how the dream started. Rahim is the hero who turned this barren place into greenery.

With an accumulated saving of Tk. 5,200,000 (52 lacs), Rahim returned to his roots, to Bangladesh. When Rahim was sharing his story, I became so emotional I was almost teary-eyed. In 2009, Rahim finally started the first-ever Baukul orchard in Cox's Bazaar, at the foot of the mountains.

At first, he sowed 700 plants and in one and a half years, he sold Baukuls worth Tk. 258,000. But, he didn't grow the plums in the right way. There should have been more. It was supposed to be couple of maunds from one plant, but he produced only a few KGs. The local Agriculture Officer told him that the next year he will be more successful. The next year was indeed better, and he sold fruits worth Tk. 8 lakh, but suddenly a disease  devastated everything. 

"I found some black spots on my plums."

"Didn't you contact the Agriculture Officer?"

"Yes I did, but he told me to use a toothbrush or a cloth to wipe the spots out. Isn't that crazy?"

Initiatives by the Agriculture Department to increase produce also failed. Rahim and other local farmers were surprised hearing the unrealistic suggestions from the department regarding how to get rid of black spots from Baukul. Rahimullah found the way to make his orchard successful by following Hridoye Mati O Manush once again. In search of a solution, he reached the doors of Moyez, the revolutionary Baukul farmer of Ishwardi, whose success was featured on the programme. One day Moyez went to see Rahim's Baukul orchard.

"Have faith and patience. Surely, they'll get good result", said Moyez. Next year Rahim's fate was different. "After Moyez bhai's visit to my orchard, I could produce around two maunds of plums from one single plant. That year I sold plums worth Tk. 1,778,000." However, Rahim couldn't hold on to the success. In 2014, he faced severe loss once again. He was broken. His partners also left him.

It was Rahimullah's dream but others needed to nurture it. To earn more for his family, Rahim had to go abroad and had assigned his friends to look after the farm. When he came back again, he found that the orchard was not being looked after properly. As a result, now, Rahim is chained by the burden of loans of Tk. 23 lakh. What can he do now?

Based on what I had learnt from Rahim, I tried to narrow down why he could n't become successful: his initial investment was too much, he couldn't give his full time and attention to it, his partners didn't have sufficient knowledge and didn't cooperate, and he didn't get timely and regular guidance from the agricultural authority.

However, many farmers in his region believe Rahim didn't fail in his attempt and regard him as the pioneer of Baukul farming in Cox's Bazar who showed the way to many farmers. Many of them also believe that Rahim should not go back to Saudi Arabia. He just needs a little help from everyone so that he can be successful and stand on his own. Moreover, local people told me Rahim's agricultural initiative has changed a lot in Ramu upazila. He has saved farming lands from the grasp of tobacco cultivation. Before I featured Rahim's story on Hridoye Mati O Manush, I had only one question in my mind, "Will Rahim be defeated?"

Rahim was supposed to fly back to Saudi Arabia on 4 February, 2015. His work permit in Saudi Arabia will expire on 10 February, 2015. After 10 February, Rahim will not have any chance to go back to Saudi Arabia anymore. After the episode went on air, Rahim didn't fly back and now he has taken the firm decision to stay in the country and start his orchard afresh. But what happened after the episode on Rahim aired on Channel i?

Many of our audience living in home and abroad have contacted us after the episode went on air. Each of them wanted to support Rahim. Some said to help him with agricultural inputs. Some wanted to become his partners. The reputed businessmen and organizations, farmers, as well as students have come forward. And, many more are helping him so that he can get rid of the loan of Tk. 23 lakh. During the show's broadcast, an audience called, "Tell him to stay in the country. Everything will change, the country will as well." 

The incredible people of Bangladesh didn't let Rahim leave the country. With their help and assistance, Rahim is starting to believe he can turn things around. He's starting to believe once again. Farmers always come forward to help farmers. This is the age-old practice of Bengal. And the people of Bangladesh will always remain beside their fellow countrymen. The urge to help others in need has not dissipated in this age of technology, urbanity and modernity. I also hope that Rahim will not fail in achieving his dream. I will keep a close eye on his future, as I wait to bring you his success story very soon.