Turning the page

Alongside the job, I decided to farm my ancestral land. So, I began with hybrid papayas and bananas last year. I quit my job at the beginning of this year and returned to my village permanently.

After finishing his MBA from a private university in 2017, Habib Khan, 32, landed a job in the garment sector in the same year. After four years in the much-coveted job, he was still struggling to support his family.

It was then he came up with the idea of a farm. Many had discouraged him at the time as it was too risky a venture to pursue, especially when one was beset with a shortage of land and funding.

But Habib put his conviction and leadership skills to work, turning considerable chunks of land in his village in Tangail into a model farm in less than just two years.

Started in 2022 in Kalianpara village under Gajaria union in Tangail's Shakhipur upazila, Khan Agro has grown to be a successful farm that produces a variety of crops including sugarcane, papayas and bananas.

"While working in the apparel sector, I realised my future will remain the same if I don't think of an alternative," Habib said.

"Alongside the job, I decided to farm my ancestral land. So, I began with hybrid papayas and bananas last year. I quit my job at the beginning of this year and returned to my village permanently," he said.

After talking to others and watching several video clips on YouTube, he decided to grow crops that are more profitable than paddy. But despite his conviction, it was not entirely smooth sailing.

The small pieces of his family land were not enough to pursue an ambitious agricultural project. Nor did he have a lot of cash to purchase more lands.

"Some of my relatives supported me financially. Thus, I was able to lease more land from locals for farming. And that's how 'Khan Agro', my agriculture farm, came into being," he said.

After leasing nine more acres of land, Habib started cultivating black sugarcane of a Philippine variety, moringa (locally known as sajne) of hybrid varieties, lemon and other crops. He also started farming fish in a pond.

"I have already started selling my papayas and bananas. But the sugarcane needs more time to be ready for sale," he said.

Habib hopes to make Tk eight lakh from his investment in sugarcane.

For 3,000 banana plants (coloured sagar variety), his production cost, including the lease money, is Tk 7 lakh this year, which he hopes to sell at Tk 12 lakh.

For 1,000 papaya plants (top lady variety), his production cost, including the lease money, is Tk 4 lakh. Just like last year, he expects a good profit from selling papayas this year.

He also hopes to get a good return on the two and a half lakh takas invested in fish.

"This year, I have invested Tk 30 lakh so far and after breaking even, I hope to earn Tk 20 to 25 lakh," he said.

Habib's agro farm is also creating employment opportunities for locals where 18 to 20 agriculture labourers work on a daily payment basis.

"Following modern methods, farming can become a real alternative to white-collar jobs," Habib added.

Mamun Haider, a local social activist, said he had visited Habib's agricultural farm and saw how a young man had created an example for others to follow.

The local agriculture officials provided Habib with necessary guidance.

Niyonta Barman, upazila agriculture officer in Shakhipur, said the hilly lands of the upazila are so fertile that almost all kinds of crops grow there.

"If the educated young people give farming a real chance, there will be many more Habibs in our country," she commented.