Biogas produced from poultry waste is gaining popularity among the people of Sreepur Upazila in Gazipur.
Sources said about one hundred families in the Lohagach area of the upazila benefited by using biogas produced from the waste of Rafin Poultry Farm.
Mustafizur Rahman, the owner of Rafin Poultry Farm, said once he was in trouble as the surrounding environment was polluted by the waste from his farm and he could not think of what he should do with the waste. However, the waste has now become a blessing for the residents.
The biogas produced from the waste is being used as fuel by 130 households in the area. The residue from the biogas plant is used as fish feed and organic fertiliser for agricultural land.
Over 130 stoves are in use, with some houses having one and others having two stoves.
The biogas supply pipe is hanging around the plant as it is safe. Locals have been cooking with the help of biogas for about three years.
This is not only protecting the environment but also reducing fuel costs. Mustafizur is now not only providing gas to his own house but also to the local households for Tk 1,000 per month. From this, he is making an additional profit of Tk 1,00,000 per month and the residents are getting the benefits of gas. Due to the safety and affordability compared to cylinder gas, the number of biogas-using families is increasing.
Even two years ago, people in the Lohagach Satrasta area used cylinder gas and firewood for cooking. Since the biogas plant was started by Rafin Poultry Farm, there has been a change in the living standards of the people in the area.
Now they are using biogas instead of Tk 1,400 gas cylinders or firewood. Users said that in-cylinder gas, there is no opportunity to save energy. But in biogas, there is no fear of running out of gas even if the biogas stove is kept burning continuously, users mentioned.
Abdul Latif, a biogas user, said, “Cooking with gas from chicken dung is just like using any other cylinder gas. Earlier, I had to pay Tk 800 for gas per month, but now I have to pay Tk 900 for two months. We are now getting biogas easily and cheaply in the current market with the high price of cylinder LPG gas. Using this gas is saving us time, and money, and reducing risks, providing all-around benefits.”
Housewife Khorsheda Begum said, “This gas is much better than cylinder gas from the market and it lasts longer. We get 24-hour service with this gas, whereas cylinder gas runs out after a certain time. It is also cheaper and more economical than cylinder gas. We are able to provide heat to chicks at the poultry farm, use it for cooking at home, producing organic fertiliser, and even lighting through a generator. This has reduced both costs and sufferings.”
Rafin Poultry Farm Manager Kawsar Ahmed said, “Gas is being supplied to 130 stoves from our plant. We have been providing this facility to the people of the area for the past three years. We have plans to supply 70 to 80 more stoves.”
“The biogas plant requires 5 to 6 employees to work continuously. We use and sell the residual waste as organic fertiliser. Our farm has about 35,000 layer chickens, with 30,000 of them laying eggs. The more chicken waste there will be, the more gas we will be able to produce,” he added.
He further said, “Alongside biogas production, we also prepare various equipment used in the farm, such as galvanised cages and supply them to different parts of the country. These items were previously imported from China, but now, due to local production, the prices are much lower.”
Majharul Islam from the Lohagach area said, “The environment was polluted by the foul smell of chicken waste. The use of biogas has brought a change for us. Now the environment is no longer polluted. We are using the produced gas for cooking at home and for that we don’t need to pay for firewood or cylinder gas anymore. We now have an accessible alternative to LPG cylinder gas.”
Mustafizur Rahman also said, "I have been involved in this business since 1999. I started with 200 chickens. Initially, I faced many problems with chicken litter (waste). I realised that something had to be done with this litter. I got a small-scale plan approved through a brick kiln. This allowed my farm employees to cook. Seeing the benefits, three years ago, I set up a 150-cubic-metre plant, which cost around Tk 16,00,000.”
“Initially, I connected 76 households in the area. Those who first used it were very happy with it. Encouraged by this, others in the surrounding areas also took biogas connections from me,” Mutafizur added.
He further said, “First, I have charged them a connection fee of Tk 1,000 and a monthly fee of Tk 800. Currently, I am taking Tk 900 per month. I am providing them with an uninterrupted gas supply 24 hours a day. Due to the consistent gas pressure and good service, the locals are demanding more connections from me.
“Later, on their request, I added 76 more lines and gave biogas connection to 130 houses. In the future, I have a plan to extend gas connections to more houses in the locality. My overall target is to supply biogas to 200 families.”
He stated that by producing biogas, he has managed to eliminate the odour complaints from the locals. Currently, there is no smell or mosquito problem on the farm, and the locals have no complaints either. The locals are happy with the gas connections. Additionally, the residual waste from the biogas production makes high-quality organic fertiliser. When this fertiliser is applied to fields, it reduces the need for urea fertiliser. Overall, this approach is an excellent initiative for a farm.
He advised other farmers involved in poultry and cattle farming to produce biogas according to their capacity, whether 50 or 100 cubic metres. This can lead to additional profit and the benefit of gas. From the biogas plant, he earns over Tk 1,00,000 extra each month.
Ali Akbar, the veterinary surgeon at the Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Department in Sreepur Upazila, said that those who have poultry waste or cattle farms are setting up biogas plants. Surrounding people are benefiting from them.
