Minhajul Minar is a college student who has had a deep interest in farming since childhood. That interest led him to grow a range of vegetables alongside his studies. He chose farming as his future so that he would not have to chase a job after finishing his education, and within a short time the college student has become known locally as a successful farm entrepreneur.

Minhajul is the only son of Nazrul Islam of Koralgari village in Khetlal thana, Joypurhat. He is a twelfth-grade student at a local college. His father is also a farmer, and Minhajul learned much of his practical knowledge of farming from him.

Talking to Minhajul, it emerges that his interest in farming began in childhood. His father grew only rice and potatoes, but Minhajul was keen to grow vegetables. His family told him not to, saying he was too young to run the farm properly and that money was short. Even so, through his maternal uncle he persuaded his father and began his farming journey with bitter gourd. Gradually, seeing his hard work and success, his father came round to support him.

With his father's help his farming gathered pace. Because the family owns little land he has to farm leased land, but leased land is hard to find in his area, and when it is available the rent is fairly high.

He grows vegetables both in season and early. At present he farms three acres: two acres of potatoes and 65 decimals of cucumber and bitter gourd. He uses the mulching method, which gives a good yield and better-quality produce that sells at a good price.

At the end of each season, after all costs, Minhajul is left with a good profit. Last year his total income was more than Tk 10 lakh, with a profit of Tk 5 lakh after costs. With a good harvest and a favourable market he earns more. Farming has changed his family's financial situation.

Because he farmed while studying at college, he was once mocked by some people in the area and by classmates, and many looked on his work negatively. Over time his success answered every question, and the same people now praise him.

Minhajul says the main reason he became a farm entrepreneur is that he never wanted a life dependent on a job. In his view, education is a personal academic and moral achievement, and there is no obligation to take a job just because one has studied.

He believes his skills will be best used in business or enterprise. Because he has a strong interest and good skills in farming, he believes he can do well through this work in future and also contribute to the country's economy.

"My father mainly grew rice and potatoes," he said. "But since childhood I wanted to grow vegetables. My family did not agree. When I was in class ten, with my uncle's help I convinced my father and started farming for the first time. I began growing vegetables with bitter gourd on the land my father had leased, where rice used to be grown."

"Later my family admitted me to the first year of the higher secondary course at Rajshahi Government Shaheed Kamaruzzaman College," he said. "The bitter gourd project was still running then, but I had to leave it and go to the city to study. My heart was not in it there. Drawn back by farming and my own work, I returned to the village and enrolled at a local college. Since then I have been even more committed to farming. Now my family supports me fully."

He is currently growing potatoes, bitter gourd and cucumber, and plans to grow aubergine, pointed gourd, bottle gourd and chilli in June and July. Rice will also be grown on the family's own land in the Iri season.

Asked about his income, he said: "Alhamdulillah, I earn well by the end of the year. But my biggest success is winning over my family and the people of the area."

He believes that one day even two or four government employees together will not be able to match him financially, Inshallah. Farming now supports his household well and is building capital for the future.

At first, he said, he was not very good at controlling pests and diseases. But since joining a Facebook group called "Krishoker Pran Krishi Poribar" he gets regular advice. When a problem appears he posts a photo there and experienced growers in the group advise him, which has greatly increased his knowledge and experience.

Reaching this point as a student was not easy at all, he said. Many people disapproved of him coming back to the village to farm rather than staying at a good college in a good city. Some sneered: "The son is doing what the father did, so what was the point of studying?" Minhajul never took such words to heart.

On his plans, he said: "After finishing my studies I want to take farming forward on a bigger scale. Leased land is hard to get in the area, but I keep trying. Within the land I have, I am trying to add new vegetables each season. From this year I plan to grow aubergine, chilli, bottle gourd, onion and snake gourd. In future I want to set up a nursery for modern seedlings and a livestock farm, which will create jobs for unemployed young people in the area."

Finally, he asked everyone to pray that he can do well in farming. He believes educated young people must come into agriculture for the country's economic development, and only then will the country move further ahead.

Having chosen farming at a young age with courage, hard work and modern thinking, Minhajul Minar is today a shining example for many unemployed young people.

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