A number of farmers in Jhenaidah remote villages have been practicing in the organic farming and reaping better from the cultivation. They have been playing role in safer crop production, biodiversity and environment protection.
Although the area of organic farming could not be expanded, the farmers involved in practicing the natural production are selling their produces at better prices compared to chemical produced ones. It has been bringing honour in the society for producing pest and chemical-free crops.
Some of the farmers are titles as Jaibachashi (organic farmers) for their activities in practicing organic method in the locality.
A sexagenarian farmer Asaduzzaman, widely known as Jaiba Asad of village Nityanandapur in Shailkupa upazila of Jhenaidah, said he brought a total of his eight bighas (4 acres) of land under paddy, jute, onion etc. in organic method.
Showing the better growth of the paddy plants, Jaiba Asad said he received training on organic farming and demerits and adverse reacting of chemical farming by a local non government organization Unnayan Dhara about 20 years back. He has been producing Babuswarna, Gutiswarna, Lalswarna and a local new variety Rupban.
The farmer said most of the farmers in the area receive 25-30 maunds of paddy on each bigha where he also receives the same quantity. He applies rotten cow dung, waste and other things as fertilizer to ensure nutrition.
As it saves at least Taka two thousand during the farming of a single crop in a season, reduces production cost. Farmers Yahiya Zaman Bashi, Jahangir Hossain and some others have been producing organic crops in the locality, Asad informed.
According to the farmer, he has been producing short duration and carp fishes on the rice plots when mild water min on the plots. Further, producing local and improved variety of fishes on his three ponds on three and a half acre of water body.
He uses local feeds, cow dung, oilcake and some other sources to feed the fish prawns. The fishes of his ponds are sold at a better price in the market for the goodwill, Jaiba Asad informed.
Nityanandapur union parishad (UP) chairman Farooque Hossain when contacted said Asad is widely known for his organic farming in the locality and fighting against the harmful chemical farming along with some local men.
Upazila agriculture officer (UAO) at Shailkupa Akram Hossain said huge birds sit on the branches of bamboo or trees what he set on the croplands. They eats up harmful insects on the daytime.
It is really a good initiative for the country, UAO said.
