Arjun Hajong from Kalmakanda Netrakona
Narayan Hajong is a creative farmer of Lengura union of Kalmakanda upazila of Netrakona district. He is 60 years old. His family consists of 2 sons, husband, wife and grandchildren. He grows vegetables around in different seasons adopting organic agriculture. After meeting the needs of the family, he sold the vegetables in the market that earns him additional cash which is useful for him to maintain family expenses.
Earlier Narayan Hajong used cow dung in his vegetable cultivation. But learning the technique to make compost from earthworm from BARCIK he now applies the compost in his vegetable garden which he finds his vegetable production is getting better and produces good yields than before. Today he cultivates vegetable throughout the year and earns. He also asked BARCIK to help him in making the compost in large scale. In response to his request, BARCIK provided him material assistance to build two 4ft/4ft houses last year. Since then he started making earthworm compost in full swing.
Narayan Hajong is making and using earthworm compost himself for organic farming. He sells what remains after his own use. He sold 2 maunds of compost for 400 taka for the first time. And the second time he sold each maund at the rate of 500 taka for maund and earned 1500 taka. In this way, he sells 2-3 maunds of compost every two months. Thus, he now sells compost almost every now and then which increases in his confidence that he is in the right track to proceed on. The demand for his compost was high but production was not possible in proportion to the demand. He does not only sell compost but also earthworms. He once sold earthworms for 1,000 taka to a private company.
From the experience of producing earthworm compost, Narayan Hajong said, “Earlier I used cow dung for growing vegetables and paddy but did not get much yield. Now I am producing earthworm compost and using it myself.” He went on saying, “And the yield is good. I am producing myself and also encouraging the neighbors.” “I can earn extra income by selling earthworm compost, which has contributed to bringing financial stability to my family.”-he added.