By Brojendranath from Rajshahi
Bilkis Begum (40) a housewife of village Karigarpara of Poba upazila of Rajshahi district. Her husband Abdur Rashid fell ill with liver complications and could not earn. Bilkis Begum thus has to work to bear children’s education expenses, food cost and treatment cost. Due to not having much wealth and lands Bilkis Begum found difficulty in maintaining her family. However, in spite of the crisis, she moves forward with her willpower, skill and hard work. She said, ‘I have to work as domestic worker to meet my family expenses. But I did not lose heart. I keep on believing on my skills and experience.’
Exif_JPEG_420Bilkis Begum one day met BARCIK staff and attended in a program organized by BARCIK. She learned from BARCIK regarding homestead gardening and organic agriculture. BARCIK also provided training to 25 women on the issue of vermin compost preparation. Bilkis Begum also partipated in that training and learned the technique. Based on her interest and demand BARCIK provided her material support so that she could prepare the compost. Bilkis Begum getting the support started to produce vermin compost on a small scale. Besides, seeing her interest Poba Upazila Agriculture Extension Department also supported her in many ways. With the supports and her determination she now sells the compost in the market and earn cash which helps her to meet the family expenses.
Today she is wellknown among the farmers. However, seeing her initiatives people in the neighborhood also get interested in making vermin compost. She also highlighted the importance of earthworm compost and advised them to use it. Thus, today the interest of people in the area is increasing and the demand for earthworm compost made by Bilkis Begum is also increasing. She said, ‘I started selling compost fertilizer at the rate of 13-15 taka per kg. After a few days, when the quantity of earthworms increased, I started selling earthworms at the rate of Tk 700-800 per mound. Being involved in producing and marketing the vermin compost has enabled me to wipe out my hardship’.
Apart from their own village, people from nearby villages came to buy compost from Bilkis Begum today. Currently, Bilkis Begum earns 18-20 thousand taka per month only by selling vermicompost fertilizer and earthworms. Bilkis Begum said that she is not the only one who benefited from the production and sale of vermicompost fertilizer in Karigarpara village. Most of the families in the village are currently involved in the production and use of earthworm compost. This year the Karigarpara village of Poba under Rajshahi where Bilkis Begum belongs from has been declared vermicomposting village by POBA Agriculture Extension Department on the World Environment Day. The news of the declaration was telecasted in the national television which makes Bilkis Begum and other happy. Presently, all the families in the village are involved in organic farming practices. An enterprising woman’s own initiative, efforts and skills have not only provided security to her family, but also made an outstanding contribution to socio-environmental change. Bilkis Begum is a shining example of that. She brought his family out of various crises and turned the practice of organic farming into a movement in the area. The story of winning an extraordinary dream of social change has been created.
Translated by Silvanus Lamin
