Vermi-compost becoming popular among Narsingdi farmers

NARSINGDI, June 20 (BSS): Vermi compost is becoming popular among the farmers of the district as the substantial uses of this natural organic manure in the fields protect the soil nutrients and fertility and raise production of crops.

Thanks to people like Selina Jahan, a pioneer vermin compost producer of Narsingdi, working relentlessly to popularise the organic manure among farmers.

Jahan has already won National award "Bangabandhu Jatiya Krishi Puraskar" given by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the 9th edition of the Islamic Development Bank prize for Women's Contribution to Development for establishing a healthy agriculture scenerio through using Vermi-ompost.

Like other Vermi producers, Jahan produces the organic compost using earthworm with cow dung and farm waste.

She told the news agency that it contains millions of beneficial micro organisms that break organic matter down into nutrient forms that plants can readily absorb.

Jahan said the production cost of vermin compost is much cheaper while its investment return is very high. Huge money could be saved if the farmers would properly use vermin compost in their vegetables and other crop fields. It also raised crops production, improve fertility of soil and maintain ecology and environment and reduce the risk of pest attack in the crop fields.

She inspired many women towards agriculture and involved women with diverse agriculture for self reliance. She also inspired the rural women producing vermin-compost for organic farming.

On January 10, 2015, Bangladesh Vermi-Compost Producer Association was formed consisting 31 members of the committee with Selina Jahan and Krishak Shahab Ullah, President and Secretary respectively.

The committee arranged its first meeting at Senbag, Noakhali and second meeting at Narsingdi with the presence of all members from Bangladesh.

The committee also arranged a seminar on the role of Vemi-compost producers and the utility of vermi-compsot at Dhaka Jatiya Press club on June 10, with Selina Jahan, President of Bangladesh vermin-compost Producer in the chair.

The seminar was attended by Anwar Faruk, Additional secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Director General of Seed Wing as the chief guest. Dr Mohiuddin Chowdhury BARI, Noakhali and Dr Gul Hossain, former Director of BARC, Dhaka was present as the special guest.