Sharing skills and ideas

Public development centre in Shadhupara. Photo: MUKUL HOSSAIN

Farmers of Mymensingh's Shadhupara have always been progressive in nature. I have observed them and found out that their minds are full of innovative ideas. Adding to that, they are also always inclined to uphold the ancient agricultural methods.
Farmers, fishermen, blacksmiths and potters- these people gather here at the centre. They are preserving crops, methods and tools that are outdated and they're learning from the farmers of other localities and vice versa. It's a great exchange of knowledge.
Shadhupara Farmers' Association is a group of sensible people with great knowledge about the nature and soil.  Their attempts in reducing farming costs and increasing production are fairly noticeable.  Many farmers of Shadhupara including Abdul Hekim have set plausible example in rice development research from such a remote area, steering a great illustration for the farmers and agriculture in Bangladesh.
A traditional Bangladeshi house that belongs to the farmers of Shadhupara- the house of enlightenment that I came to know. I was more impressed entering it. Only innovative and well-structured agricultural minds can give birth to such a venture. The club entitled, 'Public Development Centre' has been adorned with ancient agricultural objects. I talked with the founders of the club.

cockfight at a rural fair focusing on biodiversity. Photo: MUKUL HOSSAIN

“We built this house because we, the farmers needed a place to gather and sit.”
“You could sit under the tree or a farm house.”
“No, it's a place entirely for farmers.”
“What do you intend to do in here?”
“We will find solutions for many problems that we face.”
Farmers are also keeping traditional tools like plough, cutters, axes, hoes, scythes, etc.
“So you are preserving these tools?”
“Yes we are, because these are going extinct”
I can tell you about Haripada Kapali, another farmer from Jhenaidah's Shadhurhati union. Hope you've heard about Haridhan. He once found a rice plant while working in the field that was relatively longer in length than other breeds. He tried to figure out the reason, did a lot of research and finally pollinated a new breed of seed that eventually gave birth to a new breed of rice called 'Haridhan'. You must have heard about Kartik Pramanik from Chapainawabganj who started planting trees in the neighbouring alluvial lands from the age of ten? These are our golden farmers…keepers of environment who made this country more and more sustainable.
These farmers of Shahdhupara have been putting their ideas together for biodiversity as well. A fair has been arranged specially focused on biodiversity. This place is not only eye-catching, but it also exhibits many objects that are essential for the farmers. For example, one of the stalls was only having organic pesticides. Anwarul Islam, a local man has put up a stall to introduce bananas of different varieties. A woman named Rokshana Akhter was seen busy with selling rural cosmetics at her 'Bodhua Grameen Proshadhoni'. Azizul Haque, an elderly local man was displaying fishes of various local breeds. I was taken aback after arriving at Mahbub Alam's organic pesticide stall. There was a cockfight at the end, an inevitable element of ancient Bengal ritual.
I found the diversity fair very much interesting and a very timely initiative which would definitely help protect our farming and would gather more and more farmers in one place. It would also lift up the spirit and heritage of the rural Bengal. It was a glorious day of experience for sure- first visiting the Public Development Centre and then the rural fair of farmers. It was such a fruitful day for me and I am sure you'll also be inspired to see farmers gathering in such effective manner.
Our farming sector is greatly related with environment and biodiversity. It's important to educate the grassroots and make the proper use of that knowledge. We believe that the paradigm of knowledge sharing and expanding between the farmers of Shadhupara, Mymensingh will certainly inspire farmers from other parts of the country as well.