She set about producing vermicompost in a desperate effort to support her family in 2017. Today, Tania Parvin has not only succeeded in bringing solvency to the family but also emerged as the top vermicompost producer in Faridpur sadar upazila and a role model for youth.

It all started after her husband, Idris Sikder, failed to successfully run his hardware shop in Faridpur. He also tried his luck by setting up one business after another but his efforts were in vain.

Rather, he accumulated a debt of nearly Tk 30 lakh. The family was compelled to settle a majority part of the debt by selling family property.

As the family was finding it increasingly difficult to meet expenses, Tania, hailing from Sovarampur in Faridpur municipality, requested her husband to allow her to do something so that she could earn money and help run the family. But he was reluctant.

Earlier, Tania, who got married in 2007 after passing the secondary school certificate exam, received training under the government's National Agriculture Technology Project. Although she received no training in vermicomposting, she became interested in it. The only lesson she received came from a lot of videos on YouTube.

Vermicomposting is the natural process of converting organic wastes into fertilisers using earthworms.

In 2017, Akter Hossain Mollah, the then sub-assistant agriculture officer, gave Tania three concrete-made rings and four tins for producing vermicompost. Within two months, she received 30 kilogrammes of vermicompost from the three rings and sold them at Tk 300.

This was her first income and it cemented her determination to continue the work.

In 2018, she bought 11 more rings after borrowing from relatives and began to earn Tk 5,000-6,000 per month.

She collected cow dung from neighbours but they did not appreciate her work.

"But I didn't pay heed to them. I know no one would give me one kg of rice if I have no food in my house," said the 32-year-old.

In the early days, Tania had to work alone from early in the morning to night in order to build the business. In 2019, she built three reservoirs at a cost of Tk 30,000.

After six months, she contacted Anwar Hossain, sub-assistant agriculture officer in the sadar upazila, informing him about her plan to produce vermicompost commercially and about the need for a loan.

The government officer managed Tk 50,000 in loan for her from a bank. With the money, she built eight more reservoirs, taking the total to 36. This allows her to make 8-10 tonnes of vermicompost every month using cow dung.

Today, she earns Tk 50,000-60,000 a month by selling vermicompost after meeting all expenses.

Speaking to The Daily Star recently, Idris Sikder said, "At first, I did not help her. Now, she is doing a very good job for our family. Thanks to her efforts, I have settled the rest of my debts. I am proud of her."

Now, people from various districts come to buy fertiliser from the farm, located over 56 decimals of land in her house. The fertiliser is delivered by trucks if the volume is large.

The entrepreneur has bought an easy bike to collect cow dung and supply fertiliser to customers.

Tania has employed five workers to run the farm.

Md Hossain, a resident in the Sonertak area under the sadar upazila, has been working at Tania's farm for one and a half years. He earns Tk 15,000 per month.

Kakoli Begum, a housewife in Sovarampur, said it was not possible for her rickshaw-puller husband to meet the household expenses of the six-member family.

"So, I joined her. After finishing my household chores, I work here and earn Tk 4,000 every month," said the 28-year-old.

Md Hafizur Rahman, who lives in the same area, said, "Tania's vermicompost farm has created work opportunities for us."

He earns Tk 15,000 a month.

Tania collects cow dung from farmers in the sadar upazila.

One of them is Md Nahid Hossain. The resident of the Kholilpur area of the upazila owns eight cows and supplies at least five sacks of dung daily, which generates Tk 250 for him daily.

"If I could not sell the dung to Tania, I would have had to throw them," he said.

Khokon Mia, a dairy farm owner in the Housing area in the Faridpur municipality, has 10 cows. In the past, he used to dump dung beside the farm. Now he sells them to the vermicomposting farm.

"It gives me extra income. I can also keep my farm clean."

Tania's clients are spread across the country.

Debashis Roy, a 65-year-old resident in Habiganj, uses vermicompost for his garden. He needs more than 700 kgs of the fertiliser every year.

"I have been collecting vermicompost from Tania for three years as the quality is good."

Anwar Hossain, the sub-assistant agriculture officer, describes Tania as a role model.

"She is the top vermicompost producer in the district. We are providing all kinds of support to her so that she can produce more."

Tania has also taught 2,000 people on how to make the fertiliser.

"Following in her footsteps, many unemployed youths have started making vermicompost in their houses as well," added Hossain.