Sustainable Agriculture and Environment Program
Traditionally, agriculture production in Bangladesh is oriented towards paddy cultivation, to the extent that signs of monoculture have appeared during recent years, with partly decreasing yields. AID intends in this sector to promote sustainable agriculture technology and practices of land use for making economically profitable, socially just and ecologically sound towards the improvement of environment. AID also intends to focus on the alternative utilize of available land, particularly for social forestry and homestead gardening. Attention is given to the best use of the alternative land in a profitable agriculture sector so that it could lead to the improvement of the local resources base and employment scopes of small and marginal farmers and entrepreneurs especially women and poor people.
Current activities of SAEP are:
• Transfer technology for sustainable agriculture
• Diversify crops
• Establish market linkage for product marketing
• Transfer modern fish culture technology
• Tree plantation
• Provide agriculture technology training
• Reform & development lands for maximum utilization
• Provide homestead vegetable gardening training
• Facilitate nutrition education
• Promote village nursery
• Provide logistic support
• Promote poultry for nutrition
• Organize campaign on sustainable agriculture and sound environment
• Conserve tropical forest
• Raise awareness on wildlife protection and ecologically critical area conservation
• Create alternative income and employment for wetland community,
• Advocating local government and private, institutions for sustainable agriculture and environmental balance
• River conservation , Nabaganga Bachao Andolon
Sustainable Organic Agriculture
AID has played a dynamic role in the past 5 years by initiating and implementing program in organic agriculture, which influenced government policies and policies of voluntary organizations in favour of organic agriculture. AID in co-operation with several NGOs and thousands of organic farmers developed the first set of organic standards with relevance to agro-climatic and agricultural practices in the country. In order to promote organic agriculture based upon local and domestic markets, AID has also developed the first manual on organic bazars and initiated the process of producer-consumer partnership in sustainable agriculture. AID also has done pioneering work in the field of bio-diversity by identifying various legume, cereal and pulses, which are not cultivated, but included in the food basket of rural poor and developed programs to conserve these crops in order to ensure foods security in the local area. For the Jhenaidah, AID in collaboration with Bangladesh Agriculture research institutions has prepared a manual for appropriate organic farming methods taking into consideration the situations in the region – soil, climatic, social, economic, and biodiversity. This manual is being followed by the organic farmers of the region and is also used as training material during the training of local farmers.
Organic Agriculture Training
AID, with its experience of working in the area of organic agriculture for more than 5 years, has vast knowledge and resources in this field. Tapping on this expertise, AID is successful in conducting various training courses, workshops, and seminars in the field of organic agriculture and related practices of certification and marketing. AID regularly conducts training courses for small and marginal farmers in Jessore – Jhenaidah region, particularly women farmers of Jhenaidah, on organic farming practices and environment. With AID’s initiative in some parts of the district in bringing about alternative marketing methods for organic products that benefit small and marginal farmers, AID organizes regular training in alternative marketing or organic bazaars.
Promotion of Organic Bazars
Several years of experimentation in local marketing of organic produce by AID has resulted in the development of a system of local marketing suitable for the rural and urban context in Bangladesh. Organic Bazaars in Jhenaidah will be strengthened through workshops for consumers, increased involvement of the organic farmers and consumers and with better infrastructure. Local farmers organization, farmer based training programmes and low cost community based certification are the salient aspects of organic bazaars
Technology Transfer
Tissue Culture system of banana sapling production is one of the innovative steps to produce large number of banana
sapling at a time. In this method, within a short time, a large number of disease free saplings of same age and size are produced that are similar to mother plant in terms of productivity and quality. Considering the above, AID strong-willed to introduce Tissue Cultured Banana Production (BARI Kola-1) in Jhenaidah district. 03 villages have been identified through an assessment survey where 75 beneficiaries farmers have also been selected in order to introduce the proposed technology 75 beneficiaries farmers have been imparted training located at 03 project villages in 03 separate batches comprising with 25 participants in each batch. Mainly the farmers are made to familiar with the Tissue culture banana technology by the training for 03 days period. 03-demonstration plots have been established in three project villages, each plots contains an average 1-acre of land. A total of 16 farmers have provided their land for demonstration plots.
Combat Climate Change
Almost every year we are confronted with various natural calamities like absence of rainfall, heavy rainfall, flood and cyclone, etc. As this calamity causes a severe loss of our lives and wealth, it affects on our total economy. Consequently, AID kicked off environment development program in its working area in 1996. The program covers the following environmental concern. AID has included discussion session on environmental issues during meetings with its target groups organized under various projects and programs. Staffs of respective program and project disseminate information relevant to nature, ways and impact of the environmental pollution as well as the duties and responsibilities of the people in protection and promotion of environmental balance to save all of our lives. It is a matter of concern that atmosphere of the world is warming day by day; if this process is continued then 15% territory of Bangladesh will go under water by 2040. AID has started its social forestation program since its inception. Besides, AID provides large number of saplings to its group members to motivate and inspire them in homestead gardening and plantation on roadside, pond side as well as around their lands. In Bangladesh most of the people use wood, bamboo, leaves, straw, dried cow dung etc. as fuel for cooking. When these things are burnt out produce dense smoke. Smoke causes serious harm for health especially of women and children. To this context AID initiative is to transfer environment friendly improved oven production and installation technology and produce low cost oven for beneficiaries. To ensure smooth flow of Nabaganga river AID has taken massive program, which includes advocacy, mass awareness and research activities. Besides conventional method of public sensitization AID has initiated more up dated means.
Biodiversity Conservation
Biodiversity Conservation from the perspectives of preserving on farm and off farm bio-diversity, safeguarding medicinal herbs, providing food security and generating more incomes for small farmers are implemented. AID has worked in the field of bio-diversity during the past years and has identified cereals, pulse and legume crops, which are getting fast extinct. Documentation of these crops, cultural practices and economic value of them has been assessed. A manual has also been prepared to propagate these crops in the region. Efforts are made to stress on the economic value of the crops and integrate them in organic farms. Consistently introducing bio diversity and indigenous knowledge related products in the organic bazaars and the local marketing initiatives.
Nursery and Forestry Program
AID feels a deep responsibility to care for the local environment and to encourage others to do so too. AID has provided training and seedlings to encourage community groups to plant trees and grow vegetables, which not only improves their local environment but also provides families with nutritional food. AID’s current agricultural program is an action research project in based in a village in Kotchadpur entitled “Poverty Alleviation through Group Farming Approaches”. The project is investigating how group farming approaches and the formation of a farmers club, coupled with training can be used to increase the crop yields of resource poor farmers. AID has also carried out campaigning against the excessive planting of tobacco in the Kushtia districts.
Action In Development - AID, Jhenaidah is going to observe WNTD on May 31,2010 at 13 upazilas and 6 districts of Khulna division as a part of its ongoing Tobacco control project (BI funded).
