Dhancha Cultivation Increasing in Fakirhat,Bagerhat, Dependence on Chemical Fertilizers Decreasing.

S A Kalam, Fakirhat (Bagerhat) Correspondent: To increase soil fertility and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers, dhancha cultivation is rapidly increasing in Fakirhat Upazila of Bagerhat. According to the Department of Agriculture, dhancha cultivation has increased from 17 hectares last year to 33 hectares this season. This time, over 800 farmers in the upazila have cultivated this crop to reduce their dependence on chemical fertilizers. On Friday (July 31), at the Lakhpur field in the upazila, farmers Ferdous Sheikh, Harun Bishwas, Muhibul Islam, and Dipankar Adhikari were seen mixing dhancha grown on 3.5 acres of land into the soil to prepare organic fertilizer for the Boro season. This is reducing the use of chemical fertilizers while also improving soil health. The activities in the field are being supervised by Upazila Agriculture Officer, Agriculturist Sheikh Sakhawat Hossain. Upazila Agriculture Extension Officer Md. Touhidul Islam said, From just 3 kg of dhancha seeds, it is possible to produce 1,200 to 1,500 kg of green organic fertilizer. Dhancha traps nitrogen from the air and increases the organic carbon and fertility of the soil. Farmer Azhar Sheikh from Moubhog said, By cultivating dhancha on 104 decimals of land, I got about 5,000 kg of green organic fertilizer. I am using this organic fertilizer not only for Boro paddy but also in vegetable fields, and I am getting good yields and better prices. Upazila Agriculture Officer, Agriculturist Sheikh Sakhawat Hossain said, Dhancha increases the activity of beneficial microorganisms in the soil and helps in crop production. Following the advice of the agriculture office, farmers are cultivating dhancha once a year on two or three-crop land to protect soil health and reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers. Date: 31/07/2026, Friday.