By Md. Suel Rana from Netrokona
Md. Abdul Kaiyum (35), son of Hafez Md. Abdul Matin, from Bamonmoha village, learned farming from his father. From an early age, he aimed to achieve better yields than others by cultivating diverse crop varieties. He often collected seeds from different places and carefully selected crops based on land type high, low, or medium. His thoughtful land management and crop care set him apart from other farmers.
To reduce chemical fertilizers and pesticides, he produced compost from water hyacinth collected from nearby wetlands. He grew vegetables such as eggplant and pumpkin, cultivated leafy greens and sesame on floating beds, and planted multiple rice varieties to reduce risk. While other farmers suffered crop losses from pests and poor yields, his diversified approach helped him earn around BDT 150,000 from vegetables in a single season.
He maximizes land use by farming fish in ponds during the rainy season, planting rice afterward, and growing vegetables like gourd, bitter melon, and beans around pond banks. His high-quality produce sells quickly in the market at good prices. Today, he is recognized as an experienced farmer in his village.
His six-member family depends largely on vegetables, livestock, poultry, and fish farming. He owns a homestead, pond, and small farmland, and leases additional land. He grows vegetables year-round and cultivates crops such as mustard, turmeric, ginger, chili, coriander, and jute. The family also consumes uncultivated food plants and meets most of their protein needs from their own fish, cows, and poultry.
However, living near wetlands exposes him to frequent natural disasters, often forcing him into debt. To cope, he experimented with floating beds, early rice varieties, mustard, and sesame cultivation.
In 2024, following advice from BARCIK, he began duck rearing instead of seeing the wetland as a curse. He started with 200 ducklings, raising them in the wetland where natural food reduced feed costs. Initially, he collected 130–140 eggs daily and earned BDT 8,000–10,000 per week. Due to the natural feeding system, the eggs are in high demand. Gradually, he repaid his debts and improved his family’s living conditions. Currently, he has 170 ducks and has leased another pond for expansion. Inspired by his success, two other farmers in the village have also started rearing duck.
Farmer Md. Abdul Kaiyum’s story shows that wetlands and water hyacinth are not burdens but valuable resources. With access to natural resources and innovative thinking, rural families can better withstand economic and climate challenges.
