Shimul Biswas from Manikganj
Rahela is now a farmer from being a housewife. Adopting organic farming practices, she has gained recognition as an exemplary farmer in her village of Noyabari, Singair upazila in Manikgonj district. Rahela, a 42-year-old farmer, lives with her husband and two children in a 10 decimal of government land under the rehabilitation program of the government.
At one time, the sole earner in Rahela’s family was her day-laborer husband, Chan Mia but economic hardship plagued their household. Rahela Begum believed that managing her own family farm could alleviate their economic burden. Currently, she earns nearly one lac taka per year from her family farm adopting organic farming.
Recently, farmer Rahela Begum shared in an exclusive conversation with the staff of BARCIK where she shared how she has become financially solvent. She mentioned that she cultivates diverse crops such as bottle gourd, sweet pumpkin, beans, eggplant, cauliflower, okra, red amaranth, spinach, and chili on her ancestral land and orchard. These diverse crops not only fulfill her family’s nutritional needs but also contribute significantly to their financial stability. Apart from crop cultivation, she also raises ducks, chickens, cows, goats, and pigeons, contributing further to her household economy. Rahela Begum says, “My husband is a day-laborer. His income alone couldn’t ensure nutritious food for us. By producing crops myself, I can feed my family according to our needs. Additionally, I have earned around one lakh taka selling surplus crops in the local market. I earned twenty-five thousand taka just by selling coriander leaves. I also earn additional cash by selling duck and chicken eggs and cow milk regularly.”
She also shared that she has to buy less fish from the market for six months of the year. Because in front of the house, she cultivates local fish in small pond. She can consume these fish for six months. She uses cow dung and vermi compost made from cow dung for fertilizing crops. She also uses various uncultivated plants and natural ingredients like plantain, neem leaves, and mahogany fruit to control pests. That is why her crop production costs are comparatively low.
Not only Rahela herself, but also her neighbors named Joytun Begum, Kamla Begum, Anwara, Sufia, Sadiya Salma, Saleha, and Shefali have been successful in family farming. They are becoming economically prosperous while fulfilling the nutritional needs of their families.
In 2013, Rahela Begum joined the women organization which was formed with the cooperation of BARCIK. She is now a regular member of the organization. Using her acquired knowledge and skills from various training sessions organized by BARCIK, she practices natural resource-based and agriculture conservation techniques in her family farming. She does not use any market inputs for agriculture work. She makes safe and organic food by using the seeds of self-sustaining bio-products and natural resources. She conserves seeds for each crop.
Rasheda Begum commented, “In terms of the success of family farming work, BARCIK has played a significant role. I have gained the concept and enthusiasm to use natural resources in agriculture from the training received through the organization. By using all the tools of nature for agriculture, my production costs have decreased, and I am getting safe and organic food. This is fulfilling a major role in increasing my family income and meeting the nutritional needs.”
Translated by Silvanus Lamin
