As farmer Amin Biswas does not have arable land in the village, he has been farming vegetables at his house courtyard round the year and earning a lot. He has been managing a six member family at Dhaurah village under Shailkupa upazila in Jhenaidah well. One of his three sons had completed masters’ degree, while two others have been studying in university and madrashah.
Amin Biswas is an icon before the society who has been producing the vegetables without any chemical fertilizer and pesticides. He applies green manure and light trap in the night to kill any harmful pests, said the workaholic farmer. It is an instance for the unemployed young men and women who have been suffering from frustration having no job. This sort of vegetables farming on the courtyard of any house or 15 to 20 decimals of land might help anyone to lead his or her life well staying at home.
When the Roving Correspondent had visited the house if Amin Biswas about 10 kilometres from Shailkupa upazila headquarters, witnessed even not an inch of the land was fallow at his house. The tin shedhouse was constructed on about two and a half decimals of land, while remaining 35 decimals was covered green and red amaranth, basil, spinac, dhundal, chcichinga, corola tomato and some other vegetables round the year.
When contacted at the house premises, Amin Biswas said he was hopeless with his family members as he did not own any farming land. As per advises of some of the local farmers and agriculture officials in Shailkpa, he started cultivating vegetables at his courtyard in a small scale. When he witnessed the success, he brought entire land for about 35 decimals around the house. He produces almost all types of seasonal and early varieties there round the year. According to the farmer, his wife Anwara Khatun always stands him in the work. All the tree sons also help him in their convenient time.
The success farmer informed he earns at least Taka two and a half lakh from his vegetables excluding all expenses. He does not apply any chemical fertilizer and pesticides on the plots and manage it organically himself.
The farmer is confident enough that if any jobless young man or woman is involved with vegetables farming on 20 to 25 decimals of land, could not seek jobs elsewhere. Rather, it will ensure enough money. He meant one should not leave the country for any foreign country for the position of farm or day labourer as the vegetables farming has a potential without any financial investment in home.
Not only vegetables, I produce some important fruits like Bedana, Kodbel, dragon etc. at the courtyard. I sale the same in the market and my family members consume the same as much as they desire, said Amin Biswas.
According to the office of the deputy director of department of agriculture extension (DAE), the farmers in Jhenaidah district brought their 2,517 hectares of land under the early variety of vegetables in Kharip 2 season.
They produced 19.30 tones of vegetables on each hectare on an average. Till July 21, the farmers of Moheshpur already brought 125 hectares and Harinakundu farmers brought 80 hectares of land in the current season. The area of Kharip 2 vegetables will exceed the achievement of the last season.
Upazila agriculture officer at Shailkupa Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman when contacted said they have been encouraging to create new entrepreneurs in agriculture and assisting in homestead vegetables farming.
The farmers will produce vegetables round the year and consume the same for the family. They will also sale the additional vegetables in the market to add some money to strengthen their socio-economic state.
