Millionaire thru integrated farming

Another young agro-entrepreneur. His name is Mohammad Kibria Gazi who lives in Narsingdi's Shibpur upazila. Not so long ago, in 1995, he started fish cultivation with a single small pond. He also started a livestock farm with one cow. Now, he is cultivating fish on approximately 200 bighas (nearly 80 acres) of land in 65 ponds. He has a venture of beef fattening and fattens 150 to 200 cows every year. He raises cows for producing milk too. He also raised 18 thousand layer chickens. Now that's what I call integrated farming or it can be termed as a multipurpose agriculture farm. And, it's colossal, trust me dear readers. 

Kibria is also producing biogas from the waste of his farm. He has employed 60 to 70 workers at his farm who are working on daily basis. The best thing about the farm is Kibria's success inspired many others. The messages I had given regularly during the 80s and 90s on BTV's Mati O Manush to become an agricultural entrepreneur instead of running after jobs, I can see that implemented throughout the whole country.

As far as your eyes may travel, you can see the ponds. The farm goes back to two decades. Kibria Gazi was a student back then. He started this farm with a pond at his house and with just a cow. As time flowed like streams, success gradually came closer to him and turned bigger.

“After starting with fish cultivation, I also started dairy. I started with one cow at my home. I saw that I am getting calves from it and money from milk,” smilingly shared Kibria. 

“Moreover, focusing on Eid-Ul-Azha, I started cow fattening. It is quite a profitable business if the cow is healthy and is fed properly,” added Kibria.

“Before, I used raise only 4 to 5 cows. Now, there are 200 cows,” conveyed the successful agro-entrepreneur.

“Do you sell cows throughout the country?” I asked.

“Yes of course and I produce biogas from the cow dung and poultry droppings as well,” replied Kibria.

In front of the farm, there is a huge poultry shed where 18 thousand layer chickens are raised. Fourteen thousand eggs are produced from the poultry every day. 

Kibria started fish cultivation in a small scale first in 1993-1994. As I said earlier he had one pond. He cultivated rui, katla and other local fishes.

“I used to watch your TV show, Mati O Manush on BTV. I have seen many of your episodes and learned how to cultivate fish. I was even more motivated watching your programme,” said Kibria.

“How many ponds do you have now?” I asked.

“65 ponds where I cultivate rui, katla, shing, magur, koi, pabda, telapia etc,” replied Kibria.

“I had the aim to make an integrated farm, and today, you can see the result in front of you,” said the confident entrepreneur, Kibria.

“Instead of running after a job for yourself, how many people have you given employment opportunity to?” I asked Kibria.

“I have 50 to 60 workers here, working regularly at my integrated farm,” replied Mohammad Kibria Gazi.

Kibria ran from this corner of the country to another to learn many techniques of fish cultivation and also has vast knowledge on marketing his agricultural products. He even visited foreign farms to gain experience. He applied all those experience at his farm. As a result, he is producing over 1,000 to 1,100 tonnes of fish every year. The whole integrated farm gives him around one crore taka profit every year. Every night, Kibria's men catch five to six tonnes of fish. His workers are very satisfied. They are well paid and valued for their work. This visionary agro-entrepreneur is also growing grass to feed his cattle and the beef fattening process is absolutely organic at Kibria's farm. 

Kibria has future plans to import cattle from abroad, for both beef and milk and digging new ponds to spread his farm.

Dear readers, commercial and planned agriculture is always profitable. Thus, we need to take each step devotedly and carefully. Those who indulged in agriculture 20 years ago, they, themselves, became very successful along with making many young successful entrepreneurs with logic, advice and motivation. They are playing a great role in the country's agricultural economy. Similarly, they play a vital part in the development of nutrition and protein. An agricultural entrepreneur like Mohammad Kibria Gazi is a great inspiration for the young generation and without a doubt, I can affirm with great hope, following his footsteps many other entrepreneurs will rise to contribute significantly to the farming sector of Bangladesh.