Bhola chairman now a role model as successful farmer

A union council chairman in the Bhola district has set an example by becoming a successful farmer and a role model for public representatives. 

Yanur Rahman Biplob Mollah, Bapta union parishad, has been growing a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including onions, potatoes, mango, lychee, java apple, and jackfruit, which earn him a handsome profit every year.

According to local sources, Biplob’s farm “Sabuj Bangla Krishi Khamar” has a good reputation for following safe and organic farming methods.

The farm began its journey in 2005 on about 35 acres of land in Char Mansa village of Rajapur union, about 17km away from Bhola Sadar upazila.

Although the endeavour began as a hobby, in 2010, Biplob began cultivating various produce commercially.

There are about 1,500 mango trees in his orchard, including varieties like Kachimon, Bari-4, Hari Bhanga, Banana, Gaurmati, Kiujai, Palmer, Chakapat, Thai Kachamitha, Chiangmai, and Brunaiking.

Among the hundreds of lychee trees, the most notable varieties are Mozaffari and Desi. The lychee from this garden is popular in the region.

Biplob’s endeavour is not limited to fruits and vegetables but also extends to fish and dairy farms. 

Buyers from far and wide come to buy fruits, vegetables, and other produce straight from the farm.

Traders Arifur Rahman, Md Erfan, and Rubel Khan said it was a thrill to visit Biplob’s beautiful organic lychee orchard. They said, despite being a little more expensive, the organically produced lychee from the farm tasted sweeter than their non-organic alternatives.

A fruit retailer, Monir Hossain, said that he could buy ripe lychees from this orchard before the season began. “People eagerly buy the fruits of this farm.”

Yanur Rahman Biplob Mollah, 51, has been elected four times as the union parishad chairman of Bapta union under the Sadar upazila and, all the while, has established himself as a successful farmer. Biplob’s farm also cultivates potatoes and onions. This year, the farm harvested over 100 metric tonnes of onions.

Biplob Mollah stresses the importance of organic fertilisers in agriculture. “Local agriculture officials should make more field visits and ensure the distribution of fertilisers among the farmers,” he said.

He went on to say that instead of running after jobs, the youth should turn to agriculture and become self-employed. The regional administration officials also came to visit the farm on a regular basis. 

Recently, Ali Shuja, assistant commissioner (Land), Bhola Sadar upazila, visited the farm.

He was impressed by the farm and praised Biplob for being a role model for public representatives.

“We will provide land to people interested in building orchards in accordance with government policy,” the official said. He believes agricultural entrepreneurship is the right step toward eradicating unemployment.

Moreover, Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzak came to visit the farm in April after hearing about the story of Biplob’s success and praised the farm’s contribution to the development of local agriculture.

“We want to make Bangladesh self-sufficient in agriculture. If more people took to farming, it would revolutionise the whole country in a positive way,” the minister said.