Md. Masudur Rahman from Manikganj
The people in 10 villages of Baira and Talebpur Union of Singair Upazila of Manikganj district have been practicing sustainable agriculture reducing the use of chemicals since 2022. They participated in the training to increase their understanding and knowledge about sustainable agriculture arranged by BARCIK. They shared their learning with other people and farmers in the village through village meetings and created awareness about the vicious cycle of chemical pesticides and the use of chemicals in the crop fields. They also with support from BARCIK discussed on the importance of agricultural ecosystems, agricultural biodiversity, and conducted trials to show differences between organic and chemical based food production. They produce vermi compost and participated in the training to educate other farmers about preparation of vermin compost and organic pesticides.
These farmers in those 10 villages are now aware and understand the negative impact of chemical intensive agriculture on environment and human health as well as biodiversity. In order to contribute in restoring the biodiversity of the areas they have establish a center named Aroecology Learning Center at Swaruppur village with support from BARCIK. Singair Upazila Agriculture Officer recently inaugurated the Agroecology Learning Center and this house is now known as a center for practical agricultural research and agricultural environment science practice in their area.
Due to the presence of this center the practice of sustainable agriculture has increased and farmers are aware about the importance of conserve seeds, use of vermin compost that keeps the environment fresh and clean. Besides, the government agriculture officials frequently visit the areas due to the establishment of this center which benefits the farmers and women in those villages. However, convener of the learning center Namita Kittunia thus said, `Under the management of 12 farmers and 9 women farmers, local varieties of vegetable seeds, rice and spice seeds are being exchanged, the amount of agricultural incentives in the area has increased due to the regular visits of the Assistant Agricultural Officer to the center.’
Female farmer Mitu Rani said, “In this center information has been enriched with various leaflets, posters, training modules and mobile numbers of various public and private service providers and the construction of sheds for making dung manure and production of vermicompost continues.’ She went on saying, `Apart from this, the organic pest control/materials prepared from this learning center are provided to the farmers of the area for free.” Nurnahar Begum said, `Various types of vegetables are being produced here throughout the year based on this center. Pepper, cucumber, puishak (Bindweed), bitter gourd, date plantation has increased and regular maintenance, various local applications of cultivated agro-ecology are being transferred to farmers.
The establishment of this center has its social impacts as well. Farmers now can sit together and share their experiences and problems to each other sitting in the center. Farmer Dasarath Sannyasi therefore said, ‘Earlier we did not sit in one place and discuss various problems of agriculture, we used to go to the pesticide shop and talk about any problem and ask for a solution. Now we have a place to sit.’ `With training from the learning center, we can now make 3/4 types of organic fertilizers and are using them to attack insects and diseases’ he added.
This center has initiated relationship building among farmers of the area by sharing information, knowledge, ideas, ideas and various agricultural inputs.
Translated by Silvanus Lamin
