Fatima Akhter, Shyamnagar, Satkhira
As far as the eyes goes there is nothing but shrimp enclosures, no vegetation, no agricultural cropland and even not a single drop of fresh water to drink both for human and animals is available. Proliferation of unplanned shrimp farming restrained from planting crops made life unsustainable and almost impossible leaving people in poverty. There is no earning source here as because of shrimp farming that requires very few workers force. People mostly are hunting shrimp prawn in brackish water which is the hardest and uncertain nature dependent job not enough meet daily livings. Hence socio-economic status and livelihood of the dwellers is quite unsustainable, uncertain and fragile which became more critical when last year once again village protecting embankment brook down and saline water engulfed people’s houses, vegetable gardens, fish enclosures, livestock, etc.
Among many others, Monika Rani Mondal (37) a mother of one son and a daughter has been struggling to survive since after the cyclone Aila occurred in 2009. Monika lives at Durgabati village of Burigoalini union under Shyamnagar upazila in Satkhira district which is close to the Bay of Bengal. Her husband Sadhan Mandal (42) has no farming land except ancestral homestead. The couple had only a living-hunting shrimp prawn from nearby rivers. Sometimes they had to work as day laborers in shrimp farms as well. It has been a year since Monika got involved with PORIBESH project implemented by BARCIK a partner NGO of NETZ- Bangladesh. Being members of the CSO named ‘Moyur’ she took part in several meetings, capacity building trainings and awareness raising events arranged by BARCIK. Monika also received some productive assets to regenerate for better livelihood worth BDT 13500 that she invested to purchase goats, vegetable seeds, and saplings. She also purchased a total of 50 broiler chicken to set up a farm which was her long cherished dream.
Monika stared broiler farming with 500 hundred chicken 15 years ago to bring back good times for her family. With hard working, intensive care and attention it was going well but water surge of the super cyclone Aila washed away her broiler farm. Actually the cyclone Aila changed the scenario abruptly. Since then, Monika has been suffering a lot and fell into debt and it took many years for her to pay off the debts managing all regular family expanse.
“For the past 2 years I was hoping to re-start my farm as I learnt from previous experience and also build a chicken shed” says Monika. She could not arrange money for buying chicken. Fortunately, Monika came in touch with the PORIBESH which brings the opportunity to make it possible. She received 50 broiler chickens as productive asset. Raising them for 45 days, she sold them in the market for BDT 16000 and by deducting all investment she earned BDT 8,000.
Inspired by market demand and profit Monika re-invested some profit money and has started her journey a bit bigger with 150 chickens. ‘A successful farming business does not happen overnight, requires hard work, endurance, perseverance and it has given me hope to stand strong despite my poverty’ Monika’s face flashed with a laugh of happiness while saying this.
In the village, Monika has inspired many unemployed women, especially the ultra-poor women in her CSO to start with something within their possible capacity. Monika’s family now ensured food by setting up her long-cherished broiler farm successfully.
Translated By
ABM Touhidul Alam
