Cumilla farmers benefit from use of organic fertilisers

CUMILLA, Aug 23 (BSS): Farmers of the district are benefiting from the use of the organic fertilisers on their land. They are happy as crop production has increased due to the use of organic fertilisers.
Organic fertilisers are made from fungi. The land becomes fertile with that manure.
According to experts, fungicides are soil and crop friendly. This fertiliser has almost all the qualities beneficial for a crop. The use of this fertiliser, known as tricho-compost, improves soil structure and texture. It increases water retention and prevents wastage. This fertiliser controls soil acidity and salinity. It increases the yield and quality of crops. That fertiliser feeds the harmful fungi in the soil, eating the beneficial fungi. It protects crops from fungal attack. Farmers benefit by increasing yield.
According to the sources of Upazila Agriculture Office, tricho-compost is a type of organic fertiliser, whose main ingredient is a type of beneficial fungus called Trichoderma. Tricho-compost is made by mixing various organic materials, such as cow dung, chicken droppings, vegetable waste, cow dung, wood powder, corn bran, chitagur, ash, neem leaves and Trichoderma fungus spores in specific proportions and keeping them in the house for 40-45 days in a special way.
Main Uddin, a young entrepreneur, and others are producing organic fertiliser from fungi in Laksam upazila of the district. Others young entrepreneur are also being inspired by them.
His tricho-compost fertiliser factory is in Gunti village under Laksam upazila of the district. He is busy packing fertiliser there. Farmers are buying organic fertiliser from his factory. There are nurseries and fruit orchards next to the factory. Tricho-compost fertiliser is applied in papaya plantation.
Main Uddin said that he started producing compost fertiliser at the advice of the agriculture department. He produces 20 tonnes of fertiliser per month. It has been used by him and other farmers in nurseries and fields with good yields. Entrepreneurs and farmers will benefit more if the field level agricultural officers promote organic fertiliser more.