Jhenidah couple reaps the reward

Most often, organic is best. That's certainly the experience of Jhenidah couple Shamsul Islam and Mazeda Khatun, from Balarampur village in Kaliganj upazila. A decade ago, they started out with a handful of earthworms, intent on building a vermicompost business. They make natural balainashak insecticide from various leaves, bark and seeds, too. The couple knows firsthand how organic farming products can turn lives around.

“We are overwhelmed with joy,” says Mazeda. “With two square meals a day, we won the battle against hunger. We are solvent now.”

“My wife inspired me to produce vermicompost,” says Shamsul. “At first I thought it was a nuisance. But it's a very inexpensive business to run and it's profitable.”

Ten years ago, the couple had no land. They ate irregularly, to say the least. At times Shamsul worked as a labourer for three days at a stretch without food, he says. Mazeda meanwhile, worked as a housemaid.

“Eventually we were driven out of my in-laws' house,” says a sobbing Mazeda. “I passed days unfed and unclad. We really knew what hardship was.”

Then Mazeda took 300 grams of earthworms from a neighbour, Morzina Khatun. A vermicompost enterprise was begun with a single clay pot. It was an initiative that worked. Over the years the scale of their vermicompost production has grown: now they have around 300 pots set upon twelve decimals of land.

“Presently, we can produce 300 kilograms of organic fertiliser per month, which is the work of around 150 kilograms of earthworms,” says Shamsul. “From selling the fertiliser we earn about Tk 25,000 per month. Every three months we sell earthworms too, at Tk 1,500 per kilogram.”

From the profits of their business, the couple has been able to lease three bighas of land for Tk 3 lakhs. They have built a brick home. They have constructed four shops at Balarampur Bazar on three decimals they purchased, which bring in an additional Tk 1,200 in rent per month.

Indeed, they are doing so well that the organic vegetables and mint leaves they grow are given away, for free.

“We don't need any help from the local administration,” Shamsul says. “We earn a good income from our own hard work. It's really a pleasure for us to finally be in a position of self-reliance.”

“Shamsul and Mazeda have done very well,” says the upazila agriculture officer in Kaliganj, Jahidul Karim. “It's easy to encourage them since vermicompost actively improves soil quality. All farmers should try to use organic fertiliser.”