Faridpur women make extra earning by producing vermicompost
"Once I had to take money from my husband to meet the needs of the family, but now I earn Tk 10,000 to Tk 15,000 per month sitting at home from selling vermicompost," said Kulsum Begum, 40, wife of Md Siddque Mollah of Solakundi village in Faridur Sadar upazila.
Like Kulsum, around 100 women of Solakundi village in Sadar upazila have been earning a good amount of money by making the organic fertiliser at their house.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Faridpur, at least 1,300 people, mostly women, are now involved in making vermicompost in nine upazilas of the district. They are making 151 tonnes of vermicompost every year.
"I have been making vermicompost for the last three months spending Tk 1,700. I have already got 2.5 maunds of vermicompost," added Kulsum.
Champa Begum, 35, another housewife of Solakundi village, said, "For making vermicompost, we collect plants, tree leaves and cow dung and keep those in a big earthen hole. It is rotten in 20 to 25 days. It is used as feed for earthworms, and finally vermicompost is made from the earthworms' dung. Now I can make 400 kg of the organic fertiliser per month and help my family with the earning from it."
Vermicompost is being sold at Tk 12 per kg and earthworm at Tk 1 per piece at locally, she said.
Sahera Begum, 42, wife of Kolom Mia of the same village, said "We have five cows. After collecting their dung, we place it on a brick made pool for some days. Then we add earthworms and cover the mixture with gunny bags for 15 days. It is ready for use as compost fertiliser after separation of the earthworms."
Ramjan Sheikh, 60, a farmer of Solakundi village, said, "I achieved a higher yield of gourd this year using vermicompost fertilizer. I do not use chemical fertilizers on my land and as a result, the fertility of the land increased after using compost fertilizer."
Muzahidul Islam, sub-assistant agricultural officer of Sadar upazila, said, vermicompost making had introduced in Solakundu village three years ago. By this time, it becomes very popular among the farmers of the village. Farmers from different areas of this district and out of the district come to this village to buy vermicompost.
Many women are taking up vermiculture as it brings some extra earning for their families, he said.
Hazrat Ali, deputy director of DAE in Faridpur, said they are providing necessary suggestions to farmers to make vermicompost.
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