Promoting Natural Farming Practices in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is predominantly an agricultural country. Sundarbans coastal region of Bangladesh is very much disaster vulnerable due to its geographic location and higher population density. The Sundarbans is the single largest mangrove forest in the world. People of this region belong to a very poor socio economic condition. Their average monthly income moves from approx 3500 BDT to 7000 BDT (40 to 100 USD) per family according to BEDS field survey. A bigger portion of this coastal people lives from hand to mouth that is they live below poverty level. Their health, nutrition, education, residential condition etc. are worse than the other part of the country. In most cases, they depend on the natural resources of the Sundarbans mangrove forest such as honey, fish, crab and Nipa Palm etc. They don't have other livelihood options without harvesting the natural resources. Bangladesh government has declared shutdown and lockdown to reduce the spreading of the corona virus. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, food crisis of this hand to mouth people have become worst as they have to stay inside home without earning a single money. During this panic stricken situation super cyclone Amphan has passed by the Sundarbans coastal region. Thousands and thousands hectors of fish and crops farms are inundated by the saline water, coastal embankments destroyed, trees uprooted and houses damaged by this havoc cyclonic event. So, the Sundarbans coastal people are in duel crisis now. So, it has accelerated the crisis of local people. So, food security of the locals becomes the major issue now. To recover from this critical situation and to ensure the food security of the marginal people, we should focus on increasing agricultural production of the Sundarbans region of Bangladesh. So, community based agro farm can help them to reduce their food crisis. This agro farm will become a practical learning station for the villagers. Under the proposed project we would like to establish a community based agro farm in Banishanta union under Dacope sub district of Khulna district of Bangladesh. This proposed project will not only assist the rural deprived villagers to ensure their food security but also inspire other farmers to conduct similar activities to reduce their food scarcity. This project will assist to achieve the (SDGs) Sustainable Development Goals-(goal no. 02, 17) and Bangladesh Governments Vision 2021 (RUPKALPO).

The Sundarbans is the single largest mangrove forest in the world. Almost 3.5 million of Sundarbans costal people depend on the Sundarbans natural resource. Most of the Sundarbans costal people’s livelihood depends on the mangrove resources. The natural resources of the Sundarbans are limited; but day by day increasing number of people is egging with Sundarbans resources. So pressure on the natural resources is increasing at an alarming rate. Fishermen of the Sundarbans region live from hand to mouth; that is they lead their life by catching and selling fish every day. Generally the children of fishermen don’t get the opportunity of higher education. Many students get dropped out due to financial crisis and they get involved in catching fish from the childhood to support their family. That’s why the number of fishermen professionals in the Sundarbans reason is increasing; as a result the aquatic resources of Sundarbans are under pressure. Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS) is trying to raise fund from GlobalGiving to improve the livelihood of 50 dropped out children. Target grant of the proposed project is 25,700 $ and so far, 3358 $ is raised from 17 donations. We have already distributed 21 sheep among twenty one villagers, who are Sundarbans natural resources harvesters. Through this, livelihood opportunity for 21 villagers has been created, now they are extremely happy. We are highly grateful to the donor for being so kind to us. We would like to thank all our donors for their continuous support. We hope that you will be continuously with us for our community and assist them to lead a better life.