A dairy farm with 22 cows, large and small, is also supplying its owner's kitchen: the dung is collected and fed into a biogas plant, and the gas produced covers the family's daily cooking. No extra gas is needed even when guests arrive, and cooking for 20 people is done on biogas alone.

Md Rezaul Karim, who lives near Gabkhan Bazar in Jhalakathi Sadar upazila, has made a success of both his dairy farm and his biogas plant, setting an example for other farmers. He says the will, the planning and sheer determination made it possible.

Rezaul was never interested in a salaried job and always dreamed of working for himself. He says he has not suffered a loss since he started. He began by keeping two cows to meet his own need for milk, and his interest in rearing more grew from there.

His farm now has 22 cattle: 18 cows and four bull calves. Fifteen of the cows are in milk, producing more than 100 litres a day, which sells at Tk 70 a litre. Three workers look after the animals. He has also put the dung of all 22 animals to use in the biogas plant.

The dung is washed with water from a motor pump and held in a tank that feeds the biogas plant, Rezaul explained. The gas is piped to the house and used for everything from daily fuel to cooking for guests. He says he is proud to be a milk producer.

Mizanur Rahman, a doctor at the Sadar upazila livestock office, said: "Rezaul Karim, near Gabkhan Bazar in Gabkhan Dhansiri union of Sadar upazila, has become self-reliant by running a dairy farm. He also cooks every day with gas from his own biogas plant. By becoming self-reliant like this instead of chasing jobs, and creating work for others, the country can be freed from unemployment. We are giving him all the advice and support we can."

Sadar upazila livestock officer Dr Faruk Hossain said: "We encourage entrepreneurs so that new farms are set up across the country. Md Rezaul Karim has succeeded with a dairy farm and has had extra success with biogas. Many people are being inspired to start farms after seeing him."

Deputy Commissioner Ashrafur Rahman said: "If livestock can be kept healthy, GDP growth can be achieved through milk, meat and eggs. Both the country and farmers will become better off and self-reliant."

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