Sara Bangla Krishak Society (SBKS), a national federation of farmer organizations in Bangladesh, has been awarded the Achievement Award by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) in 2023.
The recognition was granted to SBKS, the apex organization for small and marginal farmers in Bangladesh, through a transparent and unbiased process.
Officials from SBKS expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Agriculture, DAE, DOF, DLS, BADC, AFO Bangladesh, and the donor agency Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) for their unwavering support.
The society’s leadership places a strong emphasis on women's empowerment, with 65% of its members being female, and women holding the positions of president and treasurer.
SBKS has set a humanitarian example by providing low-interest loans and implementing effective revolving credit management, ensuring a 100% loan recovery rate.
In response to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, SBKS supported the livelihoods of small and marginal farmers by establishing virtual call centres in 55 member organizations. These centres facilitated the purchase of inputs and the sale of produce.
Rita Brahmo, the current elected president of SBKS, shared her journey from being an urban girl in Madaripur to a prominent figure in the agricultural sector. Married at the age of 16, Rita became involved with various development organizations and later joined the Rakudiya IPM Club, affiliated with SBKS.
According to her, the FAO award is presented annually to organizations, individuals, or teams for outstanding achievements in agricultural fields, leading to positive societal impacts or significant improvements in people's lives and livelihoods.
SBKS boasts more than 10,000 members, representing 55 farmers' organizations across sixteen districts in drought-prone North Bengal and salinity-prone South Bengal.
Rita, along with others like Rehana Begum, an accountant and resident of South Rakudiya village, exemplifies the transformative impact of SBKS. Rehana, who got married after completing SSC, found new avenues through the support of SBKS. She pursued higher education while also contributing to agricultural initiatives and various organizations.
