Khadija Akhter Lita from Netrokona
Rahela Begum woke up early in the morning and feeds her livestock. She then does all the household works such as cleaning the cow shed, washing dishes, cooking foods and sweeping the yards etc. which are always regarded as ‘women’s work’. After completing the so called women’s works she goes to market to sell her agriculture produces. Rahela Begum of Netrokona District Amtala Union is now about 65 years old. She is a struggling widow. These things have started since she got married at an early age. She is still doing all things. The multi-dimensional works of Rahela Begum as woman, a widow and a successful mother are being illustrated below:
Limited resources users
Rahela Begum has only 30 decimal of lands. By capitalizing on this land, she fulfills the nutritional needs of the family, pays for the education of her three kids, and manages all the work including medical treatment. She makes proper use of her lands and she does not have even an inch of land around the house vacant all year round. Hardworking Rahela Begum spends most of the day taking care of the backyard vegetable garden and fruit trees.
Cultivation of diverse vegetables
Rachel grows vegetables in the backyard. She farms Puishak, Chinga, rice and pumpkin in the rainy season. Besides, she also farms spices like turmeric, chilli, coriander etc. in different season. She prepares to cultivate beans and gourds in advance in the winter season. There are three types of kachu in her garden. She also distributes her vegetable and other crops among the neighbors after meeting her family needs. She sells the surplus vegetables in the market that earns her cash of for about thirty to forty thousand a year.
Fruit trees of local varieties
Rahela Begum did not only farm vegetables but also plants diverse fruit trees in her limited lands. The fruit trees which she planted include: Mango, blackberry, jackfruit, guava, olive, coconut, mango, chalta, litchi, big papaya as well as various varieties of banana and betel nu etc. The vegetable and fruit trees have made her house green one and she finds peace roaming around her homestead. However, each of fruit trees have begun to yield.
Livestock breeder
Rahela Begum is an ideal livestock breeder. She keeps cows, goats, ducks, chickens and pigeons at home throughout the year. Although Rahela Begum raises animals in every house in the village, many poor women in the village have become interested in rearing livestock. So far, she has sold 4 to 5 goats worth around 30 thousand taka and she sold cows for one lakhs taka this year.
Seed conserver
Rahela Begum is a local vegetable seed collector. She conserves all kinds of seeds so that could farm with these in the next season without depending on market seeds. She also distributes seeds among the neighbors. She collect seeds from the field using her indigenous knowledge. She said, ‘We should not pick seeds at the beginning of fruiting. Seeds should be collected from fruit in the middle of fruiting because this time the seeds are matured.’ She added, ‘Everyone should conserve seeds in their house. Market seeds are not always good. If you have seeds in your hands, you have courage and you can plant in time.’
Safe food producers
Rahela Begum collects cows, goats, ducks, chicken dung and dung from the domestic animals and keeps them at home throughout the year and applies them to the vegetable fields. She does not need to use chemical fertilizers in crop farming. At the same time, due to not using chemicals the nutritional quality and taste of her vegetables are comparatively better than that of market vegetable. Due to this, the market demand for her vegetables is high.
An ideal mother
Rahela Begum’s husband died four years ago. So, Rahela Begum had to take care of her kids alone. She has continued the education of his three kids. Her one son is studying in Mymensingh Degree College, one son in 7th class and the youngest one studies in 8th class. She does not only give academic education to her kids but also teaches them moral values. Each of her sons help her when they are in vacation. Rahela said, “It’s not just about reading books. I have to make the kids growing as good human beings so that they respect other people. ‘
And Rahela Begum of Shatabari
BARCIK has been working with Rahela Begum for a long time mobilizing her to protect the environment and produce safe food. BARCIK Sometimes, helps her with seeds, sometimes with different agriculture materials so that she could continue her journey in safe food production and environment friendly farming. Rahela Begum is fulfilling the nutritional needs of her family by properly using her lands and farming in an eco-friendly manner.
Translated by Silvanus Lamin
