Muktar Hossain, Harirampur, Manikganj
A safe food festival was recently organized by Harihardiya Farmers Organization in Harirhadiya village of Lechraganj Union in Harirampur Upazila. Nannu Pramanik, Panel chairman of Lechhraganj Union and president of Harihardia Farmers’ Association, presided over the food festival. Farmers displayed stalls in the food festival with all the foods and materials that are being used by them which are contributing to the livelihood of the people of the area.
Foods on display include safe vegetables, non-cultivated plants, local agricultural inputs, eco-friendly stoves, variety of winter pies, local seed varieties including chicken hajal. Hajera’s seed variety stall caught the attention of the participants. Her stall has 40 types of local seeds. Her seed house has so many varieties of seeds which inspired many farmers. Hajera lives in Padmar Char of Manikganj Harirampur Upazila. She has been involved in agriculture for 40 years. The Lechhragganj Char Development Farmers Organization was formed with the marginal farmers of the area.
It is to mention that there are various climate induced natural disasters including floods, droughts, river bursts, heavy rains and lightning in Horirampur area. As a result of these disasters crops are damaged every year. There is a seed shortage in the area especially after the floods. Hazera Begum has built seed house in her house to deal with this seed crisis. Where local seeds are conserved. The members of seeds house help the people of the area with seeds from seed house. Farmers are helping to increase the variety through seed exchange from seed banks. Hajera’s seed house is playing an important role in dealing with natural disasters in this regard.
Hundreds of farmers in the area, youth, senior farmers, UP members, cultural activists and fishermen, and representatives of three local organizations participated in the safe food festival. In the discussion, Shahid Molla, UP member of Lechhraganj Union, said, “Women are directly involved in agricultural work in Char area. They have been doing various activities including harvesting, drying, weeding, keeping seeds in the house. Among them, Hajera of Patgramchar has done such a very commendable job by conserving various types of seeds suitable for our area. These women and farmers will protect their own knowledge, experience, practices and their own culture through these events in the area.’
Arjina Begum, president of Uttar Patgramchar Women’s Development, said, “In the past many vegetables were available in the pastures, which we did not have to buy with money. Land around the house was found in the aisles. But today many uncultivated plants have been reduced from our area due to frequent river erosion and flooding. We have to give importance to the preservation of these vegetables. Therefore, we should come forward to keep the food safe for all life forms.”
Translated by Silvanus Lamin
