Vermicompost, or earthworm fertiliser, is becoming more popular by the day in Basail, Tangail. Many farmers are keen to use it because it is cheap, effective, eco-friendly and economical. It is produced naturally from a mixture of poultry droppings, cattle dung, vegetable scraps, peels and water hyacinth. Made from biodegradable material, it keeps the quality of the soil intact.

Shariful Islam, a farmer of Northkhola village in the upazila, said the fertiliser is very useful. "I use it myself and sell the rest to farmers around me. At first I got 10 rings and earthworms from the agriculture office. Then, seeing the demand, I set up eight more rings at my own cost," he said.

Hossain Ali, a vermicompost producer in Dapanjor village, said one ring can make 50kg of vermicompost. It needs earthworms, rotted cow dung, poultry droppings, vegetable peels and water hyacinth, but even without all the ingredients it can be made with earthworms, banana peels and rotted dung. "I got 10 rings and earthworms from the agriculture office. Now I have 25 rings. With the benefit this fertiliser gives, I'll add more rings," he said.

Habibur Rahman, sub-assistant agriculture officer for Kashil union in Basail upazila, said producing 50kg of the fertiliser takes one to one and a half months, and 50kg of vermicompost can be used on 30 decimals of land. Because making it costs little, farmers are also gaining financially, he said.

Basail upazila agriculture officer Naznin Akter said the upazila had given farmers the materials to make vermicompost free of charge through various projects. Seeing its benefits, farmers are increasingly making it at their own cost, she said.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.