The rehabilitated river- eroded, destitute, homeless and floating people have been changing their fortune continuously through achieving economic self-reliance and well- being under the ‘Asrayan Prokalpo’ in Gangachara upazila here in recent years.
Under the programme, seven hundred river-eroded families, who became victim of river erosion five to twelve times over the years, have been living now in 70 barracks at ten projects built under the government’s Asrayan Prokalpo in the upazila. The beneficiary families have also set up glaring example in cent percent cooperative micro-credit loan payments when common poor people are failing to do so getting microcredit with high interest rates from other institutions or non-government organisations.
According to the concerned officials and local public representatives, the cooperative microcredit programme launched under the ‘Asrayan Prokalpo’ has been proved to be very effective in bringing self-reliance to the rehabilitated floating people.
The beneficiary families, who led uncertain life for years after becoming homeless following river erosion, have regained life anew with home, address, livelihoods and dream of brighter future for their children following the comprehensive social safety-net programmes being implemented for them.
Talking to BSS, rehabilitated inhabitants at Chengmari Asrayan Prokalpo- 1, Purbo Kochua-1 and 2 Asrayan Prokalpo, Neelchondi Asrayan Prokalpo, Bagpur Asrayan Prokalpo, Balatari Asrayan Prokalpo and Chengmari 1 and 2 Asrayan Prokalpo and Lalchand Asrayan Prokalpo narrated their success stories.
Rehabilitated couples Motiar Rahman and Sajeda Khatun, Anwarul and Nurun Nahar, Rana and Anju said they are earning better profits to continuously raise capitals through small-scale businesses and enterprises, animal husbandry, poultry, tree plantation, homestead vegetables and fruit cultivation.
Most of these rehabilitated families now have assets and properties worth over Taka 1.50 lakh to 3 lakh and they are leading better life with children and other family members by earning good profits through utilising the interest- free microcredit provided by the Upazila Cooperative Office.
Rehabilitated Alef Uddin, who is Chairman of Purbo Kochua Asrayan Phase- 1 Project Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited, and his wife Feroza narrated as how they become homeless 15 years back when the Teesta devoured everything they had. “Everything changed when we got shelter at Purbo Kochua-1 Asrayan Prokalpo to begin new life as the then government of Sheikh Hasina completed its construction during her previous 1996-2001 tenure,” the couple said.
After providing training on income generations and other issues, Upazila Cooperative Office formed Purbo Kochua Asrayan Phase-1 Project Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited and provided with Taka 6,000 microcredit to every rehabilitated family.
“We bought a heifer, opened grocery shop and completed loan payments in weekly installments to get Taka 10,000 microcredit again when we took lease of seven decimal lands that produce three crops, including paddy twice a year,” they said.
They again got Taka 15,000 and later Taka 14,000 cooperative microcredit, completed marriage of their only daughter Arjina, purchased more cows and increased investment in grocery shop and they have own assets worth over Taka 3 lakh now.
Many other rehabilitated families also narrated their success stories as how they changed fortune through similar activities with the assistances of the Asrayan Prokalpo to have their assets worth Taka 2 to 3 lakh now.
Talking to BSS, chairman of local Nohali union Abul Kalam Azad Titul termed the cooperative microcredit system launched for the Asrayan dwellers as a very effective tool to change their fortune.
Gangachara Upazila Cooperative Officer Hosne Ara Begum said the Asrayan dwellers have set up a unique example through proper utilisation of the cooperative microcredit, training and other government assistance in changing fortune.
Maintain soil health for sustainable productivity: Experts
RANGPUR, July 02, 2014 (BSS) – Experts at a farmers’ field day here have stressed on maintaining soil heath through expanded use of organic fertilisers like compost and vermi-composts for attaining sustainable productivity reducing use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) with the assistance of the Win Sources Limited and 15 Bir Battalion under 66 Artillery Division of Rangpur Cantonment organised the occasion at Alambiditor Block under Gangachara upazila on Tuesday.
The field day was arranged on the BRRI dhan 48 Aus rice exhibition plot of farmer Abdul Malek there to demonstrate expanded use of organic fertilizers and its effectiveness in improving soil health and fertility to increase crop output.
Commanding Officer of 15 Bir Battalion Lt Colonel Shahadat Sikder, psc, attended the occasion as the chief guest with Gangachara Upazila Agriculture Officer of the DAE Abdullah Al Mamun in the chair.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Gangachara Tauhidul Islam and Rangpur Regional Director of Agriculture Information Service Abu Sayem addressed the occasion as the special guests. Sadar Upazila Sub-assistant Agriculture Officear Isarat Ali and Rafikul Islam also spoke.
Farmer Abdul Malek narrated as how he got excellent production of BRRI dhan 48 Aus rice this season using compost and vermi-compost organic fertilisers together in comparison to using chemical fertilisers on one portion or compost fertilisers on another portion of his 33 decimals land.
The speakers put emphasis on maintaining soil health to improve fertility to get increased crop output through enhanced use of the substitute organic fertilisers to cow dung like green manures, wastes or vermi-composts those also increase water-storing capacity of soil.
There is no alternative to increasing organic ingredients in soil as laboratory tests show that the soil now contains only 1 to 2 percent of organic ingredients against the minimum requirement of five percent for sustainable productivity to enhance crop production, they said.
They discussed the latest technologies, knowledge and different ways for production, preservation, proper management and application of organic fertilisers like compost fertilisers, green manures and vermin-composts as per soil tests results to the crop fields.
Optimum use of organic fertilizers could improve soil texture, fertility, increase its nutrient storing capacity, upgrade sandy land into sandy-loamy, sandy loamy into loamy and subsequently into clay soil also helping emergence of beneficial insects to maintain ecology, bio-diversity and environment, they said.
