By Alpona Nafak, from Kalmakanda, Netrakona

Luxima Hajong, a resilient and conscious woman from Bogadubi village in Kharnai Union of Kalmakanda Upazila, Netrokona, is 45 years old. She holds a Bachelor’s degree and is the mother of three children. After working for 14 years in a development organization called “Nari Moitree,” she returned to her village when the project ended and became involved in agriculture. In 2022, she joined BARCIK and now serves as the secretary of the Bogadubi Dwipshikha Women’s Group.

In November 2024, Luxima participated in a training workshop organized by BARCIK on “Vermicompost Production and Use.” The training was led by local farmers’ group leader and compost producer Md. Abdul Motaleb. After the session, she was provided a few earthworms. Inspired by the knowledge and driven by enthusiasm, she began producing compost using a small discarded container at her home.

Though financially constrained and unable to build a full compost house, she never let that limit her ambition. “With determination, any obstacle can be overcome,” she says. Her innovative use of limited resources has become a powerful example of grassroots sustainability.

During the Boro season, she experimented on 8 decimals of land using only vermicompost, while the rest of her land received chemical fertilizer. The results were surprising. The plots with vermicompost had noticeably better and healthier yields. Even her neighbor, Md. Shahid Mia, exclaimed in disbelief, “How did a woman manage to grow such a good harvest?”

Realizing the benefits of vermicompost, Luxima is now preserving it for the Aman season. She experienced no side effects and considers it a safe and effective natural fertilizer. Although she has yet to build a full composting unit, she hopes to expand production in the future.

Luxima Hajong is not just a rural woman farmer, she is a symbol of eco-conscious, innovative, and resilient agriculture. Her efforts demonstrate how proper guidance, training, and strong willpower can empower individuals to promote sustainable farming practices. Her message is spreading across the village: even sandy soils can yield high harvests with vermicompost.