Khulna youths turning towards agriculture

Shafiqur Rahman Palash, a political science graduate from Govt Brajalal (BL) College in Khulna, has turned down his dream of getting a government job and became a farmer.

Palash, an award-winning farmer by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) for his contribution to the agricultural sector of the region, has become a source of inspiration for many in the area.

“I started my journey with fish farming. Primarily, I cultivated Pabda, shrimp and secured a good profit. Now I am cultivating watermelon on my two bighas of land, expecting a bumper yield,” said Palash.

Another youth, Diganta Mallick, a resident of Batiaghata upazila of Khulna and a philosophy graduate from Dhaka University, started his professional life by joining a managerial position at a publishing house.

However, very early in his career, he realized that he wanted to follow his ancestors and be a farmer. Hence, he started farming fish in a pond he inherited from his father.

“I have released 200 Barramundi and Tilapia fish in my 25-decimal pond. If everything works out well, I am expecting a profit of Tk 2,50,000 at the end of the season,” Diganta told The Business Post.

Nibas Bairagi, a Bangla Language graduate of Khulna BL College, has learned to cultivate paddy and fish on the same land from DAE and used his two bighas of land for this purpose.

“I can make a harvest of around 60 to 70 maunds of paddy from my land. I also farm fish and vegetables from the same land,” farmer Nibas.

Mehedi Hasan Bablu, an English Language graduate of the same college and a resident of Dumuria upazila, made headlines after successfully cultivating perilla from his 22 decimals of land, which was previously deserted.

“Perilla, China-originated edible oilseed has become a boon for me. I am making profits and expanded my cropland to 1.5 bighas,” said Bablu.

Borhan Ali Sarder, who did not pursue formal jobs like his other classmates, established a Seed House to facilitate other farmers of the area.

“I earn around Tk500,000 at the end of each season,” he said.

Following their footsteps, hundreds of other youth are opting for agriculture in the Khulna region.

“These youths have become an inspiration for others. They are earning much more than traditional job-holders. We are helping them expand their businesses so that they enrich the agrarian sector of the country,” said Md Mosaddek Hossain, the agricultural officer of Dumuria upazila.

Dumuria DAE Deputy Director Md Hafizur Rahman told The Business Post that the increasing number of young entrepreneurs in the district is praiseworthy.

“We are offering different loan schemes on only 4 per cent interest rate for the young entrepreneurs. We are regularly inspecting their farms and offering assistance,” added the DAE official.