He is said to have made a profit of Tk 45,000 selling spinach having spent Tk 30 only on the seeds. He has been awarded the Bangabandhu Agriculture Award 2017 as an entrepreneur in agriculture.

Like most poor farmers, Shureshwar earned his livelihood by working as a day labourer during the off-season even a few years back.  But last year he surprised everyone by subleasing a portion of barren land right beside his homestead for Tk 25,000  and growing vegetables there.

He bought seeds of spinach for Tk 30 from the market and within 45 days sold his crop to wholesalers for Tk 45,000.  His achievements have encouraged many farmers of his locality.

Acknowledging this fact, Md Imran Hossain Morol, one of the local farmers said, “Although Shureshwar does not own even a piece of land for farming yet, he was able to receive award from the hands of the Prime Minister.”

What is his secret? Agriculture Officer at the Department of Agriculture Extension of Dumuria Upazila Md. Nazrul said formerly Shureshwar used chemical fertilizer in his field, but since last year he replaced them with vermicompost as suggested by the DAE.

Vermicompost is a kind of organic fertiliser made from earthworms. It contains water-soluble nutrients and is said to be an “excellent, nutrient-rich organic fertilizer and soil conditioner”.

Md. Nazrul mentioned that an agriculture training center for local farmers has been opened in Shureshwar’s house where they can get the necessary training in the new method.

Shureswar said, “I employ local inoperative women to help me in my work and to make sure that they also can make a living out of it.”

Md. Iktiar Hasan, sub-assistant Agricultural Officer of Dumuria upazila, said spinach farming is a suitable investment for the farmers in the area as little to no production cost is required.

Many farmers of the area are now following Shureswar’s example, he added.