Md. Zahidul Islam Zahid, a smallholder farmer from Santoshpur village in Jibannagar, Chuadanga, faced challenges common among farmers in the area including high production costs, dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, declining soil fertility, and low market prices for unsafe vegetables. Producing safe vegetables at low cost while protecting soil health and the environment remained difficult for him.
A turning point came when Zahidul came under the support of `the Establishment of Agro-ecological Learning Center to Expand Eco-Friendly and Safe Food Production Systems’ implemented by WAVE Foundation with support from PKSF. Through hands-on training, field demonstrations, exposure visits, and regular technical follow-up, he learned to prepare and use Trichoderma, vermicompost, bio-pesticides, bio-stimulants, fermented liquid organic fertilizers, botanical pest repellents, enzymes and growth promoters using locally available resources.
“Now I know how to prepare compost, natural pest repellents and other organic inputs using materials available on my own farm. Using these organic inputs has helped me reduce production costs and grow safer vegetables,” said Zahidul.
Inspired by the training, Zahidul established a Tricho-compost production bed and a vermicompost unit with earthworms on his farm. He also began preparing fermented liquid organic fertilizers, Neem (Azadirachta indica) and Mehedi (Lawsonia inermis) leaf extracts, enzymes and growth promoters. Now, he uses 100% of the compost and organic inputs produced on his farm. As a result, his production costs have decreased by 35-40% while soil organic matter has improved and pest attacks have reduced.
WAVE supported his journey through practical training, compost preparation demonstrations, input support including Trichoderma inoculum and earthworms, continuous technical guidance and opportunities to become a peer trainer through Krishi Morcha (Farmers’ Producer Organization). His farm has now become a local learning site for other farmers.
The impact extends beyond his farm. Zahidul helped form a Krishi Morcha of 25 men and women farmers and regularly trains them on organic input preparation and safe cultivation. More than 15 neighboring farmers have started preparing vermicompost after seeing his success, contributing to a growing local movement for safe food and environment-friendly agriculture.
Zahidul plans to expand his vermicompost unit into a small enterprise serving farmers in Jibannagar Upazila, increase Krishi Morcha membership from 25 to 50 within the next year and establish a community seed bank of local safe vegetable varieties.
