Ariful Islam built a mixed farm on his father’s land in Kurigram district. The operation now brings in about 200,000 Bangladeshi taka a month and employs four other people.
Islam studied at Carmichael College in Rangpur before taking a job at a private company in Dhaka. He soon quit, borrowed 30,000 taka and started a broiler chicken farm on unused land belonging to his father. After selling three batches of poultry, he saved enough to buy two improved-breed cows in 2020.
The herd later grew to four. Islam sold the animals and bought 30 bull calves at an auction at an army camp in Lalmonirhat. He sold them in early 2022 and used the proceeds to expand the business. In 2024, he bought a Friesian cow with a calf. His father gave him 100 decimals of land, and he leased another 120 decimals to grow fodder.
The farm now has 15 dairy cows, about 2,000 laying hens and two fish ponds. The cows produce roughly 80 liters of milk a day, while the hens lay about 1,800 eggs. Islam told Prothom Alo that after feed and other costs, the poultry operation leaves him about 150,000 taka in monthly income.
He spent 50,000 taka stocking the ponds last December. Islam estimates the fish are now worth about 550,000 taka. He values the farm’s total assets at around 10 million taka and says the operation brings in roughly 200,000 taka a month.
Islam’s wife, Umme Sabihatun Jannat, known as Sinti, initially felt uncomfortable telling acquaintances that her educated husband worked on a farm. She has a bachelor’s degree in computer science and engineering from Saidpur Army University. She told Prothom Alo that she came to support his work after seeing his dedication and effort.
His father, schoolteacher Md. Dalil Uddin Bhuiyan, also initially objected to Islam leaving salaried work. He later gave his son a 100-decimal plot. Bhuiyan said he was proud that his son had created employment for himself and four others.
One of the workers, Rajkumar Roy, used to rely on day labor and had no steady work for much of the year. He now earns 15,000 taka a month at Islam’s farm. Three other workers receive the same monthly wage.
Islam said he had received little financial support from the government. Habibur Rahman, a district livestock officer, told Prothom Alo that the department does not provide cash grants but offers vaccines, technical services and veterinary assistance. He said the district has about 450 small farms with more than 10 cattle.