Cow dung fuel meets cooking gas demand at Fulbari

FULBARI, KURIGRAM, Jan 15: Cow dung fuel sticks are meeting cooking gas demand in Fulbari Upazila of the district.

Most of the people can't afford cooking gas due to increased price. They are using this fuel, made of dung, rice bran and jute stick. Low-middle income people are benefitting mostly.

Housewives are preparing the dung fuel item in different villages in the upazila.
Some housewives said, after getting up in the morning, they enter cowsheds and collect dung in buckets. Later on, rice bran is mixed with the dung.

In making a dung stick, 2-3 foot jute sticks are used. Later on, raw sticks are kept on yards in sun for drying. It takes 5-6 days to dry.

After drying, sticks are stocked for use.

Yet, due to increasing use of cow dung fuel, farmers apprehend organic fertiliser crisis.

Housewives of Kurushaferusha area Shapla Rani and Prstima Rani said, "We have two cows. We use the dung for making fuel sticks."

"These sticks burn well. We can cook well," they added.

A dweller of Gourakmandal Ashrayan Mariam Begum said, "My husband is a day-labourer. We can't afford purchase of cooking fuel. I collect dung from fields and others' homes to make fuel sticks."

Upazila Agriculture Officer Nilufa Yasmin said, Lakri (fuel stick) of cow dung has been popular.

When asked whether it will create crisis of organic fertiliser, she said, no way! The organic fertiliser is not made only of cow dung but of other things also.