On the occasion of the centenary of the birth of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute has undertaken various programs in the agricultural sector with the technical assistance and funding of the Agricultural Research Foundation. As part of this, it has started production of non-toxic safe vegetables in Bogra’s Shajahanpur Upazila with the aim of commercializing agriculture. Under this program, vegetables are being produced using tricho-compost and tricho leachate instead of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

In the implementation of MCC Bangladesh and Rural Development Project (GAP), 530 farming families in 8 villages of Chopinagar Union in Shajahanpur Upazila of Bogra have been involved in the production and marketing of safe vegetables. Of these, 75 farmers are using house method and 30 farmers are using tricho-compost and leachate in ring system for safe vegetable production. Even Hossain Ali and Rumana Akhter, a farmer couple from Jayantibari village, are producing tricho-compost and leachate commercially in 14 houses in their backyard. The farmer couple is earning Tk 6,000-7,000 per month by using these composts and lychees on their land as well as selling them to other farmers. After processing, packaging and branding these vegetables produced by the farmers under the name of Organic Village, it is reaching the hands of health conscious consumers in the famous shopping mall of Bogra city.

To see the success of the farmer couple Hossain Ali and Rumana Akhter, the executive director of the Agricultural Research Foundation Dr. Life is Krishna faith. He was accompanied by the Chief Scientific Officer of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI). Moshammat Samsunnahar, Senior Scientific Officer Mafruha Afroz Limi, Abdullah, Executive Director of Gamin Development Project (GAP), Jahangir Alam, MCC Bangladesh Bogra Program Officer, Asif, Assistant Director of GAP.

Farmers couple Hossain Ali and Rumana Akhter said that by producing non-toxic safe vegetables, farmers are getting higher market price. On the other hand, they are benefiting from less diseases and less insect infestation. So farmers in the area are producing vegetables using tricho-compost and leachate instead of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Farmers who are not producing tricho-compost are buying compost manure from their factory at Rs 15 to 18 per kg and applying it to the land. They are earning 6 to 7 thousand rupees per month by selling this compost. Abdullah, executive director of the Rural Development Project (GAP), said the pilot project began in 2013. Since 2016, 530 farming families from Brikushtia, Khudra Kushtia, Chopinagar, Dahi Kandi, Jayantibari, Kamarpara, Bihigram and Shahnagar of Chopinagar Union have been involved in safe vegetable production.