Chapainawabganj Correspondent :
One year- long ‘Promoting Food Security and Livelihoods of Marginalized People of Barind Tract’ (PFLMB) programme funded by Oxfam Novib has been going on in draught prone 24 villages at Nachole Sadar and Nejampur unions under Nachole upazila of Chapainawabganj district and Kolma and Badhoir unions of Tanor upazila of Rajshahi district.
With the aim of increasing agricultural production and income of marginalised and vulnerable families of Barind tract by adapting climate adaptive sustainable agricultural technologies, diversifying income generating activities and skill development, Agriculture Sustainable and Socio-Economic Development Organization (ASSEDO), a non-government organization started the project from January, 2014.
ASSEDO sources said, the project has been started with the target of creating income generating sources for 600 poor and marginal farmers’ families of the aforesaid areas.
About the output of the project, Executive Director of ASSEDO Agriculturist Rabiul Alam said, it has increased capacity of 560 poor and marginal farmers in utilizing climate adaptive agricultural technologies. Market -based livelihood diversification and income of target group families has been increased through collective actions in 15 groups (300 members), he added.
He further added that it has developed skill of 40 youths (16-24 years women & men) for better employment and income generation within and outside the area for diversified income and improving socio-economic status. The project is being implemented by coordinating with the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) and Agriculture Research Institution.
Some 600 participants have been imparted training in 24 groups on the use of sustainable and climate adaptive agricultural technologies, development of nutrition and food, production and preservation of quality seeds, growing vegetables at home stead all through the year and growing draught tolerant fruit trees.
Besides, vegetables seed was given to 600 people, draught tolerant paddy seeds were given to 330 persons of whom 30 persons got seeds of BRRI-48, 100 persons got seeds of BRRI 57 and 200 persons got seeds of BINA-7. Financial assistance was provided to 120 families of the poor farmers. 3,600 fruits and draught tolerant trees were also distributed. Each family got six trees of nim, sazina, mango, amra, lemon and guava. Publicity was made about the success of the farmers through demonstration plots and farmers’ gathering.
It is learnt , 40 persons have been selected for activities out side the agriculture. Of them, 20 persons have been selected for sewing, 7 for mobile phone repairing, 6 for electricity, 3 for welding and 4 for shallow mechanic.
Month long training on sewing was provided to 10 women. They were also given sewing machines. Training for another 20 women would start in the current month.
While contacted, Nachole upazila agriculture officer Md. Zahidul Hoque Chowdhury said, the joint initiatives of the government office and ASSEDO would be very effective for adaptation with the changed climate. Farmers are showing enthusiasm in using the technology given by ASSEDO in growing and preserving quality seeds, he added.
