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Farmers in Khulna are embracing green manure as a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers, offering new hope for eco-friendly and cost-effective agriculture in the coastal region.

With guidance from the Department of Agricultural Extension, farmers are reviving traditional methods such as green manuring to cultivate paddy successfully without chemical inputs. The practice not only improves soil health but also reduces production costs and dependence on chemical fertilizers.

Farmer Md Shahjahan Hossain of Shurikhali village in Batiaghata upazila cultivated transplanted Aman paddy this year on 70 decimals of land without using any chemical fertilizers. Instead, he used Sunn hemp (Dhaincha) as green manure.

‘After harvesting Boro, I sowed Sunn hemp seeds. When the plants matured in about 45 days, I plowed them into the soil,’ Shahjahan told BSS. ‘My paddy grew well without any chemical input, saving me around Tk 6,000-7,000.’

Farmers in nearby Gangarampur and Chakrakhali villages, including Abdul Hamid and Harun-ur-Rashid, have also adopted the method and observed promising results.

According to agricultural experts, green manuring increases soil organic matter, enhances microbial activity, and enriches the soil with nitrogen. Research by the Agricultural Research Foundation shows that one hectare of Sunn hemp can contribute 60-80 kg of nitrogen, equivalent to 4-5 bags of urea fertilizer.

Inspired by the success, farmer Abdul Hamid said, ‘For the first time, I’ve seen paddy growing without urea - and the yield looks good. I plan to plant Sunn hemp on all 12 bighas next year.’

Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer Jibananda Roy said that soil fertility in coastal areas is declining due to salinity and long-term chemical use. ‘We are encouraging Sunn hemp cultivation. Already, around 110 bighas in Shurikhali have been brought under green manure cultivation.’

DAE Khulna Zone reports that in 2025, over 3,000 farmers cultivated Sunn hemp on 474 hectares across Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, and Narail, with 400 hectares used directly as green manure before Aman cultivation.

Upazila agriculture officer Abu Bakar Siddique said, ‘We distributed 5 kg of Sunn hemp seeds each to 210 farmers under an incentive programme after watermelon cultivation. The plants are mixed into the soil after 45 days, reducing production costs while ensuring good yields.’

Md Rafiqul Islam, additional director of DAE (Khulna Zone), said, ‘Sunn hemp is vital for soil health. Overuse of chemical fertilizers hardens the soil, while Sunn hemp restores balance. Farmers are also using vermi compost and water hyacinth as part of organic practices.’

He added that farmers currently produce around 50,000 tons of vermi compost in the Khulna region. DAE plans to increase this to 1 lakh tons by 2030, with projected demand rising to 3.74 lakh tons by 2050.

Experts say Bangladesh uses 50-55 lakh tons of chemical fertilizers annually, including 26-27 lakh tons of urea, which places a Tk 10,000-12,000 crore subsidy burden on the government. Green manure could significantly reduce these costs and improve environmental outcomes.

Professor Dr Monirul Islam of Khulna University’s Agro Technology Discipline told BSS, ‘Green manure reduces greenhouse gas emissions linked to urea production and supports sustainable agriculture and climate resilience.’

Currently, organic fertilizers account for only 5-6 per cent of total fertilizer use in Bangladesh. Though an organic fertilizer development programme was launched in 2021, its reach remains limited in rural areas.

Agricultural experts suggest that reallocating a portion of the fertilizer subsidy toward green manure promotion could reduce costs, cut import dependency, improve soil fertility, and increase resilience to salinity and climate change.

The success of farmers like Shahjahan Hossain proves that chemical-free paddy cultivation is both feasible and profitable. With continued government support, research, and awareness, green manure could pave the way for a more sustainable and eco-friendly future in Bangladesh’s agriculture sector.