Climate change has been creating huge challenges to smallholder farms by causing prolonged droughts and erratic rainfall leading to reduced water retention capacity of the soil, increased erosion and biodiversity loss.
Agro-ecological practices like composting can increase water efficiency and the building up of healthy soils. Compost that is incorporated into the soil not only becomes part of the soil’s carbon pool (sequestration), but also increases the soil moisture and reductes in the need for fertilizers and pesticides. The use of compost improve numerous greenhouse gas benefits, both directly through carbon sequestration and indirectly through improved soil health, reduced soil loss, increased water infiltration and storage, and reduction in other inputs. (Sharma and Campbell, 2003).
Smallholder farmers in the SAFBIN programmes have been adopting agro-ecological practices like vermin-composting that are addressing the challenges of climate change affecting them.
Md. Shahidul Islam is one of the farmers under the programme who has successfully adopted vermin-composting in his farm. Like many other farmers in the drought-prone areas of northern Bangladesh, he is a victim of climate change. He resides in the Sormongla village of Paba in Rajshahi. Shahidul inherited his 100 decimal lands from his father. Besides, he has leased another 165 decimal lands on his own. His parents, younger brother, wife, and his five-year-old son are members of Shahidul’s family. His father Md. Rezaul Karim is a village doctor. His mother and his wife are homemakers. And his younger brother is a college student.
Shahidul took the helm of the family just after passing the higher secondary level. Since then he has had to work extremely hard to support his family. He used to grow crops on his father’s land. But the effects of climate change, such as drought and untimely rainfall have hampered production to the expected extent. So it did not give him enough income. That forced him to lease more lands. But that made the situation worse. The production cost was increasing day by day. But not his income. Despite all his hardships, his earnings had remained inadequate. He seldom met the basic needs of his family. He felt the gradual decline of their living standard. That frustrated him a lot.
Four years ago, SAFBIN had started working to improve the living standards of small farmers like him in the Shahidul area. Shahidul was very happy to know about this. He was selected as a member of Ekota SHFC.
Within a short period, Shahidul came to know that the project provides different essential training to the farmers. That made him happier. A few days later he got a chance to take part in training on earthworm compost production. He was shocked to learn of the harmful effects of excessive use of chemical fertilizers on the environment. On the other hand, the benefits of earthworm compost for soil health amazed him. He came to know how earthworm compost improves the water retention capacity of soil in drought-prone areas. He learned the process very quickly and decided to start it on his own.
With the help of SAFBIN, he bought 18 earthen pots. He had filled those pots with half-rotten dung. Then he had released some earthworms in it. Within a few days, the half-rotten dungs had turned into earthworm compost. He had separated the earthworms from the compost. He then applied compost to his paddy fields and homegrown vegetables.
That season, Shahidul noticed a significant change in production. Not only this, he noticed a reduction in production costs as well. That changes did not escape the notice of neighboring farmers. They too gradually had become interested in earthworm compost.
That had encouraged Shohidul a lot. He had decided to increase his production. So he added another 40 concrete rings to his farm. This was giving him enough production for his own use. On the other hand, he was able to earn some extra money by selling surplus to the neighboring farmers.
It didn’t take long for the fame of earthworm compost made by Shahidul to spread around. Some owners of betel-leaf and guava orchards came to him to buy his compost. That had boosted Shahidul’s confidence. Considering the increasing demand he had decided to produce earthworm compost on a commercial basis. In a quick time, Shahidul had constructed 6 rectangular concrete tanks. Each of them was 8 feet long and 3 feet wide.
Since then, Shahidul’s life has changed. Last year, his average monthly earthworm compost production was 900 kg. Regularly he can sell those at 12-15 taka per kilogram. From January 2019 to March 2022, Shahidul had produced about 19,050 kg of earthworm compost. From which he made a profit of BDT 217,950. With his profit, last year he had bought two cows for his farm. Now Shahidul has five cows. They provide enough dung for his composting activities.
Shahidul said, “My prosperity has returned with Earthworm compost. It has the same effect on any crop. I always take feedback from the farmers. I love to see them coming back to me with a big smile. That inspires me a lot.”
Shahidul happily teaches the process of making earthworm compost to those who show interest. He plans to expand the business as demand grows. He plans to add five more rectangular concrete tanks to his farm. Speaking about his dream Shahidul said, “SAFBIN did wonders to my life. In the future I will build a farmhouse”. He also added that “I want to make my son well educated.”
Small farmers like Shahidul are playing their part to address climate change. These small steps together can make a big difference. It’s time for us to play our parts for a sustainable future.
