From poverty to economic stability

Photo:Kabir Mallik

POOR farmers of Khulna and Satkhira districts are now making an amazing journey from poverty to economic stability, self-reliance and respect among their communities.
The farmers started their journey following the launch of the Food Security for Sustainable Household Livelihoods -- Action Aid Bangladesh Project (FoSHoL) two years ago. The four-year project, funded by the European Commission (EC), works for improving food security and livelihoods of agriculture dependent resource-poor households, mainly small and marginal farmers.
The poor people's efforts to improve their standard of living earned appreciation of a five-member delegation of the European Commission headed by First Counsellor and Head of Operations Francoise Collet. The team concluded a field visit to FoSHol-Action Aid project areas in the two districts on January 21 and 22.
"I'm impressed by the commitment expressed by all towards the issue of food security of farmer households," said delegation leader Francoise Collet to this correspondent at Noihati Union Parishad (UP) Complex in Rupsha upazila, Khulna. She expressed her satisfaction during the visit.
The first secretary of the delegation of the European Commission to Bangladesh Dr. Klaus-Dieter Gautsch, Program Manager-Food Security Stephane David, Food Security Expert Massimo La Rosa, Food Security Advisor Manjurul Alam and International Rice Research Institute (Irri) representative for Bangladesh and Team Leader, FoSHoL Coordination Project, Dr. Mohammad Zainul Abedin were also with her.
Action Aid Bangladesh Country Director, Farah Kabir, accompanied them. The project activities have been implemented by FoSHoL -Action Aid Bangladesh partner organisations Jagrata Jubo Sangha (JJS) and Uttaran.
The main objective of the visit was to find out how FoSHoL contributes to food security for households, as well as its activities at the grassroots level.
FoSHoL-Action id Project Manager, Masud Alam Khan, ATM Zakir Hossain, Executive Director of Jagrata Juba Shangha (JJS) and Shahidur Rahman of Uttaran, two development partners of Action id joined the visiting delegation. Masud Alam Khan accompanied the team during the entire period to explain the project objectives and reply to queries of the delegates.
Irri M&E specialist Abutaher M. Ziauddin, Mizanur Rahman Choudhury, Project Coordinator, FoSHoL, Care Bangladesh, and Mahammad Ali, Team Leader, Practical Action were also present. The visiting team observed, shared, and participated in the ongoing farm and field activities at Rupsha on January 21.
In the morning, the EC delegation visited a FoSHoL farmers' organisation at Pathorghata Tilok Salpo Bahirdia (TSB) union in Rupsha. They interacted with farmers during a routine courtyard session and learnt about their activities.
The team members talked to them about food security, rights, access to government facilities, gender discrimination, restriction on participation in economic activities of women, polygamy, gambling, early marriage, dowry, and social exclusion that affect their food security.
They visited Noihati Union livestock service centre to see a vaccination drive and attend a triennial meeting of Moitree, an alliance of farmers, at Noihati UP Complex.
A group of farmers consisting of Khaja Mohiuddin, Samad Sheikh, Saifur, Mainuddin Sheikh and Motaleb Sheikh disclosed that JJS motivated them to get united under the umbrella of Padma Krishok Sangathan. They underwent a training course on integrated rice-fish-vegetables culture. This helped increase their production as well as income.
They visited Doba village in Ghatvog union to interact with the Sidr-affected participants and attended a meeting of Moitree, an alliance of farmers. In Tala upazila, Satkhira, the EC team attended two meetings of female farmers' organisations at Baro Kashipur Moddhya Para in Sarulia union and Kapashdanga in Nagorghata union on January 22.
Female farmers like Bilquis Begum, Hajera Begum, Parul Begum, Hasina Khatun, Asma Khatun and Lutfunnesa talked about their welfare. They said they had struggled to feed their children twice a day even two years ago. FoSHoL-Action Aid-Uttaran motivated them to become members of Baro Moddhya Para Kishani Dal.
As members, they undertook training on improved livestock rearing and homestead gardening. Utilising the training, they produced abundant vegetables and raised greater number of cows, resulting in rise in income and change in lifestyle.
The visitors also saw floating agriculture being practiced by woman farmers at Sharsha. They talked about their struggle against stagnant water hindering livelihood options. They participated at an opinion exchange meeting at Satkhira District Officers' Club, where representatives from district administration, agriculture, livestock and fisheries department, government of Bangladesh, and chairmen and members of local government institutions took part.
Finally, the delegates saw a grand Farmers' Field Day at Padma Rani field at Par Kumari village in Patkelghata. Farmers, especially women, thronged in large numbers in the areas where FoSHoL is being implemented. They discussed and displayed their activities in the exhibition stalls through various types of models.
The EC delegation's First Secretary Dr. Klaus-Dieter Gautsch was especially pleased to see the participation of so many women. He appreciated the enthusiasm and mobilisation amongst the farmers, active contribution of women farmers and presence of school children.
Earlier, the team was accorded a reception by Action Aid Bangladesh and FoSHoL team at a city hotel in Khulna. The delegates met the entire team of FoSHoL Project coordination and management as well as their implementing partners, coordination team, government and private sector high officials, academicians, researchers, journalists and civil society members and local government leaders. They learnt about the chain of activities and management of the projects.
FoSHoL works with nine Action Aid partners in Khulna, Satkhira, Kurigram, Patuakhali, Noakhali and Sunamganj. They are Zibika, Kurigram; Uttran, Satkhira-Jessore; Jagroto Jubo Sangstha (JJS), Khulna; Speed Trust, Patuakhali; Noakhali Rural Development Society (NRDS), Noakhali, and Voluntary Association for Rural Development (VARD), Sunamganj.
It covers nine upazilas of the districts. These are: Satkhira (Satkhira Sadar and Tala), Khulna (Koira and Rupsha), Patuakhali (Kolapara), Noakhali (Noakhali Sadar), Kurigram (Kurigram Sadar and Ulipur) and Sunamganj (Bishwamberpur).
The project engages poor farmers from hard to reach areas of the remote districts to innovate and adapt appropriate technical solutions to their farming problems; explore and adapt suitable marketing practices to reap higher margins from their marketable produces; diversify income options of their families; and form self-help groups to address socio-political and economic issues that affect food security as well as livelihood security.
Participants are being facilitated to establish network-linkages with various extension service providers, local institutes and civil society organisations to access and control over services and resources, establish and maintain community initiatives like crop banking and crop insurance to prevent income erosion, and overcome vulnerability to shocks and stresses arising out of natural or other disasters.
The project also encourages in situ conservation of bio-diversity, leading to a better world for all. The project uses "whole family" and "whole farm" approach which entails critical engagement of all members to holistic advancement of the households.
The project will impact on the lives of 20,000 households directly participating with the project, while another 6,000 poor households are expected to benefit from innovation, and learning from direct participants.

Z.A.M. Khairuzzaman is a freelance contributor to The Daily Star.