Turf grass farming brings fortune to Chandpur youth

CHANDPUR, Sept 20: Golam Rabbi, 25-year-old entrepreneur, son of Md Abu Gazi, lives with his family in Chandpur district town's Puranbazar area, where he has started cultivating turf grass commercially.
"Selling the grass, I'm now earning between Tk 0.1 million and 1 million every month," said Golam Rabbi.
Turf grass, also known as carpet grass, is mainly grown in rolls and sold for decorating one's lawn with lush green grasses.
Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Golam Rabbi had to return home from Bahrain, where he used to grow and take care of turf grass for lawns.
"Returning home in 2021, I started growing carpet grass on a trial-basis on 30 decimals of land in Paschim Jafrabad of Sadar upazila," he said.
"For this, first I had to collect grass seeds from India. And I spent Tk 0.12 million for collecting seeds," he added.
The seeds were sown and Golam Rabbi started getting good results soon. He started selling his grass at Tk 80 per square foot to people of different places including Dhaka.
"I have sold a number of grass rolls in the hilly areas of Khagrachhari district in last few months. People are buying those for beautification of their homes, hotel lawns and office premises," he said.
Now, Golam Rabbi owns several grass fields on 134 acres of land.
The lands are at Paschim Jafrabad, Kotrabad, Bohoria and Sreeramdi of Chandpur Sadar.
He said that he sells his turf grasses online, as well. And he has a plan to expand his business in more areas soon. A total of 200 labourers are working on his grass fields.
Agriculture expert Naresh Chandra Das said, "Through internet and Youtube, many of our young people are learning many things. Lawn carpet grass is one such new idea."
"We are ready to extend cooperation if anybody seeks our suggestion in this regard," he added.

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