Netrokona:Netrakona Defying the conventional pursuit of jobs after higher education, young entrepreneur Md. Mahidul Hasan Munna has carved out a successful career in agriculture by combining innovation, modern technology, and diversified farming on his ancestral land in Netrokona.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Munna has transformed 20 acres of ancestral land in Dhitpur village into a modern integrated agricultural estate and commercial agro-business. His journey began with small-scale initiatives in 2020, and he launched full-fledged operations in 2022. A graduate in History from Netrokona Government College, Munna is currently pursuing his master's degree and has chosen agriculture as a means of building an independent livelihood while contributing to the country's food production.
Munna conducted extensive research and received specialized training in modern farming techniques, particularly the use of mulching paper from the Germplasm Centre in Gokul, Bogura. His dedication earned him the 'Emerging Agricultural Entrepreneur' award in 2023, and he was later invited to share his experiences as a guest speaker.
Currently, Munna cultivates high-value vegetables on approximately three acres of his farm using mulching technology. Capsicum, bottle gourd, cucumbers, beans, tomatoes, green chillies, and eggplants are among the crops grown commercially. Emphasizing safe food production, Munna developed a homemade organic pesticide and employs yellow sticky boards and sex pheromone traps for pest management.
The farm also features over 2,000 indigenous banana plants, a sweet banana mango orchard, and commercial cultivation of jujube varieties. Indigenous and Friesian cattle are reared alongside crop production, with a biogas plant converting cow dung into fuel, and vermicomposting providing organic fertilizer.
Munna has established an online and offline agricultural service platform, 'Agrosoma,' which supplies various farming materials and equipment. The business operates a distribution hub in Rangpur, supplying agricultural machinery to customers through logistics companies. His ventures have created employment for five local workers, and he plans to expand into duck and goat farming.
Access to affordable finance remains a challenge, and Munna advocates for low-interest agricultural loans to help young entrepreneurs expand their ventures. Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Md. Amirul Islam, described Munna's venture as an exemplary business model, noting the Agriculture Department's support for innovative young entrepreneurs. Munna's story highlights how knowledge and determination can turn traditional resources into a sustainable business, fostering new opportunities in rural Bangladesh.