By Biswajit Mondal, from Shyamnagar, Satkhira
Manjurul Islam (35) living at the village of Kochukhali, located in Munshiganj Union of Shyamnagar, Satkhira has become a successful young entrepreneur through his integrated agriculture farm. Before starting the farm he lived a careless life, depending on his parents and brother for his daily needs without having much responsibility. However, he eventually realized that he needed to do something to transform himself as human resources.
In order to pursue his objective of transforming himself to human resources and do productive things, he left for Dhaka and worked in a garment factory for a year. But after one year of working he discovered hardship working under others. Being exhausted he decided to return home to make something of his own on his father’s land.
Returning home he started to use 1.5 bighas of his father’s land and began farming independently. He planted various vegetables along the boundary and cultivated rice in the lowlands, constructing canals for fish farming. Since then, Manjurul Islam has used this land to cultivate diverse crops throughout the year turning it into an integrated farm where he grows rice, vegetables, and raises local fish.
Manjurul Islam said, “I work alongside two other people. I aim to expand my fields and create employment for more people. Each year, my earnings from rice, vegetables, and fish farming exceed one lakh taka. Several villagers have also been inspired to start integrated farms seeing my success. People from different organizations and nearby villages also now started to visit my farm and observe my work.”
In addition to rice and vegetables, Manjurul has planted various fruit trees around his home as well. He also reared livestock such as cows, goats, ducks and chickens. Today there are 3 cows, 10 goats, 14 ducks, and 18 chickens at his house which helps him meeting most of his household’s nutritional needs. The family members of Monjurul thus, only need to purchase oil, salt, and a few spices from the market. Through integrated farm management, his family’s situation is improving.
Manjurul mentioned that his farm has been selected by organization, BARCIK, as part of their Shotobari (Nutrition) initiative. In regard to that BARCIK has been providing regular support, including materials and training. This year, BARCIK provided vermicompost training and materials to encourage him adopting organic farming practices. He also received four types of native rice seeds from BARCIK for the Aman season, which he planted in seven katha of his land. Manjurul is now dedicated to conserving native rice varieties and vegetable seeds and aspires to turn his house into a model agricultural farm in the future.
