Bikash Ranjan Chakrobarty has started harvesting pumpkins not so long ago. Successful cultivation of pumpkins in the wetland has changed his fortune, enabling him to lead a better life.
“Life is not so easy in the swamp,” says Chakrobarty, describing his past cultivation experience. “Food insecurity and seasonal flooding make us vulnerable all throughout the year. In most areas, only rice is harvested. Every year, our lands are under water for almost six to eight months because of flash and regular floods,” he adds. Since the past couple of years, he tried to cultivate pumpkins but lack of knowledge and technology made it almost impossible for him to succeed.
In terms of ecosystem, crop production practices in the wetlands are quite different compared to other parts of the country. According to the National Food Policy Capacity Strengthening Programme (NFPCSP), 18.1% households are listed under the hardcore poverty line and 40.2% households under the absolute poverty line. The study also revealed that about 19% experience severe food insecurity for six to seven months of the year. Whereas agriculture is one of the major means to make a living in our country, the net cultivable land for agriculture is gradually diminishing due to floods and other environmental hazards. People are forced to give up cultivation, which is their traditional and oldest profession; they are struggling to find new employment.
To help control the situation, Islamic Relief Bangladesh are assisting farmers with ideas and technology. Funded by UKAID and Islamic Relief UK, in close collaboration with different research institutes, Department of Agricultural Extension and Community Producer Group, a project titled “Enhancing Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Resilience in Bangladesh” is aiding farmers in wetlands.
Bikash says, “Islamic Relief Bangladesh provided me seeds, fertiliser and pesticide, as well as training to mobilise local resources and support entrepreneurial initiatives.
He says that the estimated selling price of a pumpkin is currently Tk150, but in lean seasons, value of pumpkins will drastically increase.
Bikash is also helping his neighbours and peers who come to him for suggestions on pumpkin cultivation.
Samir Kanti Das, Nobolal Das and Nirmol Bapary of Sulla union have also enjoyed similar benefits of pumpkin cultivation like Bikash. They all narrated their success stories in pumpkin cultivation, expressing their excitement after a bumper pumpkin output this year. They are hopeful about making a good profit.
Samir Kanti Das (67), a poor farmer of Hohibpur Union of Sulla Sub district is expecting to make a good profit this year. “I had already earned Tk50,000 by selling over 2,200 pieces of sweet pumpkins last year. This year, I have cultivated the crop on a larger scale hoping to get bigger yields.”
Agricultural lands are gradually losing their top soil fertility in fighting adversity of climate variability. Pumpkin production through technical strategies demonstrated by Islamic Relief Bangladesh has shown a way of sustaining food security with diversification in this crucial time of climate changes. The poor people of the wetlands are getting financial and nutritional support for cultivating sweet pumpkins and it is gradually gaining more popularity.
