Sohaf Uddin studied only up to class eight. Poverty forced him to work in the fields with his father, but he did not give up and was determined to stand on his own feet. Six years ago he took training in improved farming from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), and also learned how to make vermicompost (earthworm compost). It was this compost that showed him the way to self-reliance. He now makes three tonnes of it a month and has opened a fertiliser and seed business.

The 31-year-old entrepreneur from Patiya in Chattogram has become well known locally for his vermicompost. He lives in East Haidgaon village of Haidgaon union in Patiya. He began working in the fields with his father while in class two, and his schooling ended for good after class eight. In 2015 he got the chance to join an agricultural training course run by the upazila DAE office, where he learned to make vermicompost. After that he devoted himself fully to it.

Sohaf said that in October 2017 he rented a small plot next to his house for Tk 100. Under a tin roof he built six rings in a small shed. In each ring he put 100 to 120 kg of rotted cow dung, vegetable scraps and ripe banana peels, along with 500 grams of earthworms he received free from the agriculture department. It cost him only Tk 300. After 40 days each ring produced 45 kg of vermicompost, which sells for Tk 18 to Tk 20 a kg, so the six rings earned him about Tk 5,000 to Tk 5,500. The worms multiply every three months, so he does not have to buy new ones. He said making vermicompost needs cattle and goat dung or poultry droppings and entrails, which he and his wife collect.

He said that because the work gave good returns on little capital, neighbouring farmer Abu Nayeem joined him in 2018, and he now supplies dung regularly. Nurseries, gardeners and rooftop gardeners across Chattogram buy the compost from him wholesale and retail.

On a visit, vermicompost was being made in six long houses, each 30 feet long and 12 feet wide. Sohaf Uddin, his wife Ruma Akter and farmer Abu Nayeem were busy at the farm. They produce three tonnes of vermicompost a month, and sales bring in Tk 45,000 to Tk 50,000 a month.

Sohaf said he won awards for his vermicompost at agricultural development fairs in 2018 and 2019. He has now set up a firm, M/s Satgachhia Beej Bhandar, which sells vermicompost along with seeds.

Mohammad Abu Sayem, a farmer in Haidgaon, said he has fruit and vegetable gardens on nearly three acres. He used to apply various chemical fertilisers heavily, but since Sohaf Uddin started making vermicompost he has been buying it from him, and his costs have fallen. He used to spend Tk 400 on fertiliser; now he spends Tk 160.

Patiya upazila agriculture officer Kalpana Rahman said farmers are leaning towards chemical fertilisers for various crops, which reduces soil fertility and organic matter and in turn lowers yields. Using vermicompost protects soil health and raises fertility, which will benefit farmers and help produce chemical-free crops.

Source: Prothom Alo. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.