There’s a remarkable tale of perseverance in rural Bangladesh, where nature thrives and people live closely together. It is in this beautiful community that we find Ashraful Islam, who started his journey with a small tea shop and went on to become a true leader in farming innovation. In 2021, Ashraful stumbled upon the potential of vermicomposting, a method that uses earthworms to convert waste into wealth. With a vision for a prosperous future for his family and his community, Ashraful seized upon this opportunity, believing strongly in the power of soil to transform lives.
Ashraful’s farm, ‘Krishi Khamar,’ received a generous grant of BDT 1 lakh 25 thousand in June 2022, thanks to the support of the Rural Microenterprise Transformation Project (RMTP) by WAVE Foundation. This must have been a huge relief for him and his family. With this financial boost, he was able to ramp up his operations and produce an impressive 70 to 75 tons of vermicompost every month. We can only imagine the hard work and dedication that must have gone into achieving this feat. What started small soon grew into a thriving community enterprise. Today, ‘Krishi Khamar’ has ten permanent workers and 20 temporary ones’ committed to Ashraful’s vision of sustainable farming and helping the community.
Ashraful’s innovative earthworm fertilizers have caught the attention of major companies like ACI and Lal Tir, leading to fruitful partnerships that have further accelerated his mission. Together, they continue to uplift more farmers, spreading hope and prosperity throughout the region. Ashraful’s hard work earned him the Best Agricultural Entrepreneur Award 2023 from WAVE Foundation. Yet, for him, the true reward lies in his love for his land and community and the knowledge that his efforts are making a tangible difference in people’s lives.
