By Champa Mallik, Shyamnagar, Satkhira

In the saline waters of Datinakhali village in Burigoalini Union, Shyamnagar Upazila of Satkhira, farming crabs and shrimp is a primary livelihood. But local farmers face a persistent trouble: the jomra snail. Each year, these snails infest the bottom of the ponds, disrupting the movement and feeding of fish and crabs. Clearing them costs time and money, as laborers manually remove and discard them due to their foul smell.

But Rafiqul Gazi, a farmer and agroecology practitioner, saw an opportunity in the problem. With just 25 decimals of homestead land surrounded by saline shrimp ponds, Rafiqul innovatively repurposed the discarded jomra snails as an alternative to crushed bricks for construction.

Back in 2012, while rebuilding a storage slab for his pond, Rafiqul experimented by using cleaned jomra shells instead of brick chips. The concrete turned out strong and durable making him surprised. After observing its sustainability over two years, he extended its use to his home’s veranda, courtyard, walkways, and cattle shed.

He: wash the snail shells thoroughly, then mix 4 parts jomra shells, 3 parts sand, and 1 part cement. Rafiqul found this cost-effective and long-lasting. Today, others are following him. Farmers who once paid to remove the snails are now selling them at BDT 300–400 per sack. Local laborers collect and sell the shells, and even buyers from outside the area have shown interest.

Rafiqul, a member of the “Shoto Bari” initiative supported by BARCIK, urges for wider promotion of this sustainable solution, especially in high-salinity coastal zones. He proposes that BARCIK to include his innovation in community gatherings and knowledge-sharing sessions.

His story shows how innovation, resilience, and ecological thinking can transform a nuisance into a resource giving the once-troublesome jomra snail a new purpose and meaning.