Promoting Natural Farming Practices in Bangladesh

Fishing is the major profession among different professionals of the Sundarbans in Bangladesh. Catching fish from the Sundarbans Rivers is very risky; because, fishermen have to collect fish fighting against natural disasters and wild animals. So, sometimes fishermen get injured or die in an unexpected way. Fishermen of the Sundarbans region live from hand to mouth i.e. they lead their life by catching and selling fish every day. Their lives have become more difficult by the ever growing price hike of the daily necessary commodities and that’s why they are involving their child to work with them. So, generally the fishermen children don’t get the opportunity of higher education. Many students get dropped out due to financial crisis and they get involved in catching fish in childhood to support their family.

Recently a super cyclone named Amphan occurred in the Sundarbans coastal region of Bangladesh. It destroyed the shrimp and agriculture farm, damaged embankment, collapsed households and uprooted trees. So, people are in serious economic risk.  

Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS) is focuses on nature conservation through livelihood improvement of the poor communities. Mathurapur (Jelley Polly) fishermen village is adjacent of the Sundarbans in the south west part of Bangladesh. There are 75 families live in this village. Education rate of this village is very low. Due to unconsciousness, parents are not interested in their children’s education. In this village, there are many dropout children working with the parents to harvest Sundarbans natural resources. BEDS has been trying to improve these marginal people’s life and livelihood since 2013.

Currently, BEDS is trying to raise fund from GlobalGiving platform to improve livelihood of 50 drop out children. Target grant of the proposed project is 25,700 $ and so far, 833 $ is raised.

We have been communicating with our target community regularly and discussing with them about future initiatives on their better life and livelihood.

We want to thank all our donors for being with us. We hope that you will be continuously with us for our community and assist them to lead a sound life.