By Silvanus Lamin
Cultivating vegetable by making proper of use of homestead lands has offered success and solvency for the urban poor people in Rajshahi slum area. After being motivated, encouraged and trained by BARCIK these people now can see the ray of hope of advancing in life elevating their income and confidence. These people after meeting up their respective family needs, they are earning money through selling the surplus of the vegetable cultivated in an environment friendly way.
Mainly, these slum dwellers launched the venture in response to the call of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina where he urged all to make the best use of each inch of their lands to counter the food crises caused due to the Covid-19 in 2020. In the initial stage, BARCIK provided them technical supports along with the necessary farming materials such as native varieties of vegetable seeds, organic fertilizer and caret. Being inspired with these materials and technical assistance the low income people started to maximize their lands by cultivating diverse vegetable in an organic way.
Majeda Begum, a resident of Budhpara slum, said they are being benefited enormously after cultivating both winter and summer vegetables by adopting environment friendly manner. She said, “I cultivated bottle gourd, cucumber, and coriander according to my own choice this year, and I got good yield.” She went on saying, ‘We are getting green, fresh and safe vegetables regularly protecting us from various diseases caused by malnutrition. Rani said, “We have been producing chemical-free vegetables, using organic fertilizer. We are also selling some vegetables in the local market after meeting the family’s demand.” However, being inspired by the success of Majeda Begum, many other fellow women and men among the low income people in slum areas have expressed their interest in producing chemical-free vegetables by using organic methods.
On the other hand, Shah Alam, a resident of Boharampur slum, has been cultivating safe vegetables, including bottle gourd, bean, ladies finger and green chili for the last two years being motivated and facilitated by BARCIK and become successful in this field.
He distributes his vegetables among his fellow people after meeting his own family needs. He said, “I also earn money through selling the harvested vegetables frequently,”
“Organic farming is not only safe but also very profitable. If the weather is favorable and no natural disaster takes place, I can reap double profit from what I invest in growing vegetables,”-he added. He is one of a handful of cultivators in the slum areas using organic methods and has become one of the most successful vegetable farmers.
He is earning money through selling varieties of vegetables, including red amaranth, spinach, bottle gourd and Indian spinach at present. With full support from his wife and children, he is growing chemical-free organic vegetables.
“I’ve learnt about the importance of vermin compost, seed conservation and seed exchange from BARCIK attending in different training arranged by the organization”-he said.
