A farmer’s journey from the field to the markets

by Bushra Humaira Sadaf, Md Abdul Haque, Abu Abdullah Miajy Sharif Ahmed, Humnath Bhandari

This article highlights Dilip Kumar Roy’s journey from struggling farmer to successful entrepreneur, showcasing the power of sustainable farming and support.

“People used to call me lazy and useless. I was unsuccessful in every aspect of my life and felt completely defeated,” says Dilip Kumar Roy, a 48-year-old farmer from Dharmopal village in Jaldhaka, Nilphamari in Bangladesh. “Now, those same people come to me for my advice about raising livestock. It feels good to be accepted in the community.”

Just a year ago, Dilip’s life looked very different. He struggled to support his wife, Smoroni Mohon Roy, and their two daughters on a limited income. With no formal training in farming or livestock management, he stuck to what he knew—growing rice, potatoes, and maize. He also reared five cows and some poultry birds, but the income from these wasn’t enough to cover his family’s expenses.

Things went from bad to worse when a duck-rearing venture he invested in failed miserably, wiping out much of his savings. “ I kept on making losses after losses,” Dilip recalls. “No matter what I tried, nothing seemed to work.”