Shimul Biswas from Manikgonj
The farmers in Singair of Manikgonj have been producing organic crops from a long time being facilitated by BARCIK. They use organic manure and pesticides in producing such fresh and healthy crops. But due to lack of access to market and knowledge regarding marketing of their crops they are deprived from the just price.
However, seeing this BARCIK takes initiatives to connect them with some marketing outlets along with the government agriculture department in Singair. Besides, BARCIK helps the farmers to publicize regarding their environment friendly agro products by inviting them to participate in fairs, events and campaigns arranged by the organization. Participating in those events helped the farmers to familiarize about their products to the consumers and the consumers also learn about the organic agro products of the farmers. Among those consumers and organizations, Prokitik Krishi Biponon Kendra of Dhaka is one of the crop marketing outlets which focuses on promoting and selling organic products.
Thus, learning about the organic products of the farmers the organization shows interest to buy those organic products to farmers directly. The decision of the marketing outlet to buy crops from the farmers directly has provided joy and enthusiasm to farmers both men and women. This initiative also has opened window for 25 female farmers of Noyabari Adorsha village to have fair price of their products. These women recently have jointly transported their traditional, uncultivated and organic crops to Prokitik Krishi Biponon Kendra, Dhaka and received higher price compared to the price they received in local markets.
Both men and women farmers also send some uncultivated food plants which have less value in local market, to Dhaka through Prokitik Krishi Biponon Kendra. The farmers also get just price of these uncultivated food plants in the markets of Dhaka. According to the farmers in Singair, being able to be connected with the markets in Dhaka has raised the confidence of the farmers, particularly women. The women farmers are now could fix the price of their organic crops by themselves! This has led them to work hard and in an integrated manner which also boosts their mutual relationship. The women farmers send all their organic agro products to Prokitik Krishi Biponon Kendra, Dhaka and receive the prices that they fix by themselves.
Kamala Begum, president of Noyabari Adorsha village plays lead role in transporting, communicating and sending their agro crops to Prokitik Krishi Biponon Kendra, Dhaka. Besides, the other members of their organization also provide supports to her. Presently the process is running smoothly. The female members are documenting their goods name, total products amount, products cost, received money and amount of money which each have received. The leader of the farmers’ organization is communicating with the shop authority and send their products such as gourd, wax gourd, cucumber, bean, ladies finger, banana, papaya, potato, tomatoes, livestock and spinaches such as Puishak, Lal shak, Dhonia, Methi, Kolmi, Dhaki shak, kolar mocha, kochur loti, Thankoni pata, patashak,etc. to Dhaka without BARCIK facilitation at present. Today, the farmers both men and women are independent and happy now.
It is to mention that Initially BARCIK communicated with Prokitik Krishi Biponon Kendra, Dhaka and introduce farmers, particularly women to this outlet. In order to make the process of selling farmers’ crops to Prokitik Krishi Biponon Kendra involving farmers in the process. After three months of such facilitation BARCIK handed over the process to farmers themselves as within these three months those farmers have learned the process successfully. Today all those farmers manage the process properly.
Translated by Silvanus Lamin
