The use of organic fertilizer in agricultural land in Paikgachha, Khulna has increased several times. Most farmers are using organic fertilizer to increase soil fertility in various agricultural activities, including watermelon and vegetables. There is a huge demand for vermicompost produced in the area due to its quality compared to purchased organic fertilizer. For this reason, new entrepreneurs are being created with the help of the Department of Agricultural Extension. GM Shukuruzzaman is one of the successful entrepreneurs among the new entrepreneurs.
He is producing 20 metric tons of vermicompost annually. He is earning extra income by producing vermicompost. Following him, many have become interested in producing vermicompost. The Department of Agricultural Extension believes that if the production of organic fertilizer increases with the demand, the use of chemical fertilizers in agricultural land will decrease comparatively.
Agriculture Head, At one time, farmers in this area knew nothing but organic fertilizers for agricultural crop production. Organic fertilizers were used in the production of any crop. In the last two to three decades, the use of organic fertilizers in agriculture has completely decreased. Farmers seem to forget to use organic fertilizers, which are the lifeblood of the soil. The use of chemical fertilizers is increasing. Due to excessive use of chemical fertilizers year after year, the organic content in the soil has come down to zero. The Department of Agricultural Extension has taken initiatives to increase the fertility of the soil and restore organic content. Through consultation and technical assistance under various projects, the Department of Agricultural Extension has tried to increase the production of vermicompost and along with this, it has taken various steps to increase awareness among farmers about the use of organic fertilizers in agriculture.
On the one hand, under the management of the Agriculture Department, the use of organic fertilizers in agriculture has increased, and on the other hand, new entrepreneurs are coming forward to produce organic fertilizers due to demand. GM Shukuruzzaman, son of the late Gazi Abul Kashem of Gopalpur village of Gadaipur union of the upazila, started producing vermicompost in 2024 with the help of the local Upazila Agriculture Office under the Department of Agricultural Extension. Shukuruzzaman, in addition to serving as the president of the National Gold Medal-winning Sholaana Traders Cooperative Association, has created a huge response in the area by producing vermicompost at his homestead. Every day, farmers from different areas are buying the vermicompost he produces and using it in agricultural work. The main ingredients for producing vermicompost are cow dung and Thai earthworms.
Shukuruzzaman is producing good quality organic fertilizer through a special process using his own cattle dung and earthworms. Within two years, the quality of Shukuruzzaman's fertilizer has spread to different areas. Although it is sold more or less throughout the year, the demand is high from November to March to April. Therefore, he stores the fertilizer produced in advance and supplies it to the farmers in season. Farmers are also happy to get timely fertilizer at affordable prices. Farmer Tanmoy Bain in Bainbaria said that this year I am cultivating watermelon on 15 bighas of land. I have bought the organic fertilizer I need from Shukuruzzaman. Model farmer Malay Mondal of Huglar Chak village said that the quality of Shukuruzzaman's fertilizer is much better than the fertilizer bought in the market, that is why I buy all the fertilizer I need from him. Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer Anwar Hossain said that he initially started with 12 to 15 houses. Currently, his production is much higher. Due to the good quality of the fertilizer, farmers in the area are using his fertilizer. GM Shukuruzzaman said that I started producing vermicompost with the help of the Department of Agricultural Extension.
Due to the high demand in the area, I have been gradually increasing the production. Currently, not only the farmers in the area, but also farmers from far away places come to buy fertilizer from me. Many men and women in the area are working on my farm to earn a living. Through this, I get additional income which I can use for household and other purposes.
Upazila Agriculture Officer, Agronomist Md. Ekramul Hossain said that vermicompost is a beneficial fertilizer. It is called the life of the soil. But unfortunately, no one in this area has a single organic component in their soil. In this situation, there is no alternative to using organic fertilizer in agricultural work. In this case, GM Shukuruzzaman is already gaining wide recognition in the area by producing vermicompost as a new entrepreneur with the cooperation of the Department of Agricultural Extension.
The vermicompost produced is much better than ordinary purchased fertilizer. Farmers are now using organic fertilizer in agricultural work, especially in the production of various crops including watermelon, vegetables, nurseries and roof gardens. The bulk of the supply comes from vermicompost. The Department of Agricultural Extension is working to increase the production and use of vermicompost to bring back organic components to increase the fertility of the soil, said the official of the Agriculture Department.
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