Salina Jahan, a woman farmer-cum-entrepreneur of Narsingdi district, set an example establishing a healthy and organic agriculture using organic fertilizers, unleashing an inspiration for other women to be self-reliant.
Salina brought out women from their home to lands through her work, inspiring them towards agriculture and involving them in producing vermicompost for organic farming.
Being a pioneer for women, she received ‘Bangabandhu Jatiya Krishi Purasker’ from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2007, reports BSS.
She was also awarded Islamic Development Bank (IDB) prize for her contribution to food security and women’s empowerment. In 2017, she also received award Joyeeta in economics category from district administration.
Salina said she and her organization ‘Grameen Krishak Daridra Bimochan Ar Makalyan Sangstha’ started an organic agriculture farm in 2007 with the assistance of the then Deputy Commissioner Amrita Baroi.
She brought out the unemployed rural women from their homes to the lands and engaged them in producing vermicompost for organic vegetables, she said.
Salina said at present she cultivates organic vegetables and rice on 25 bigas of land and makes an excellent income from agriculture.
She also engaged herself in poultry farming and Turkey bird rearing at Joynagor union of the same upazila in the district from 2015.
At present there are over 5000 layer and 5000 broiler chickens in her poultry farm and 700 turkey birds in the turkey bird farm.