Farmers have profited from establishing integrated farming in Hili, Dinajpur. The farm management system aims to establish and maintain sustainable agricultural practices.
Apart from benefitting financially by using this method, the farmers are also contributing to the development of their areas. These farms are creating opportunities for the unemployed.
As a result, more such farms are popping up along border districts.
The farm has seven ponds with shade for the chickens | Dhaka Tribune
Mafuzur Rahman, a farmer started his integrated farm back in 2012 on 40 bigha ( 1 acre = 3 bigha) of land at the upazila’s Chhatni Charmatha circle. He farms cattle – including buffaloes and cows – fish, and chickens.
Mafuzur’s farm has 60 dairy and 55 non-dairy cows. The farm has seven ponds with shade for the chickens. The farm also has mango, lychee, and coconut trees.
Mafuzur said: “Within a very short time I have profited from this farm. My seven ponds have many different varieties of fish as well. Every year I have a net profit of Tk20-25 lakh just from cultivating fish.”
Photo: Dhaka Tribune
“My dairy cows provide 280-310 litres of milk, every day, which I give to the Brac chilling centre. Although there has not been much profit from this yet,” Mafuzur said.
Mafuzur said: “I have invested in some buffaloes—still in its testing phase. I am hoping to get a good amount of money from the manure too.
“I am trying to make fish feed from it. I am producing biogas from the manure and this is helping in cooking at my home and on the farm too. The biogas is saving me fuel energy.”
There are 10-15 workers employed on the farm. They say this job is helping them to be self-sufficient and they are also able to afford education for their children.
Hakimpur upazila Water Recourses Official Dr Nasirul Islam said: “Mafuzur has benefitted from his farm because we gave him proper advice and cooperation. Because he has a big farm, he is also planting grass.”
Following Mafuzur’ example, many others in the region are setting up similar farms.
