An unusual initiative was taken to keep workers at the Barishal river port ghat (porters and callmen) away from drugs and gambling. Through it, Ripon Howlader has succeeded in growing various winter vegetables and planting flower and fruit trees on abandoned land in the launch terminal area. Ripon is being widely praised in Barishal for creating flower and fruit plots with the launch ghat workers.

A visit to the Barishal launch ghat found rows of colourful flowering plants in various disused spots along the way from Gate No. 3 through the port building to the pontoon. Next to them are gardens of various vegetables, which have brightened the area and changed the look of the river port.

Imam Hossain, a callman on the Parabat launch on the Barishal-Dhaka river route, said: "With the help of journalist Ripon bhai, I planted some hybrid bean seeds this time. From just five bean seeds, the yield I've had is unbelievable. The plants, sown two to two and a half months ago, are now bearing beans in bunches."

He said: "It's possible to get such a big yield even without chemical fertiliser. I've seen this for the first time. Now local farmers who've heard about my beans come to see them. Many say they'll grow these beans next season."

Worker Kalu said: "Although we work at the launch ghat from afternoon to night, from morning to midday we used to idle away the time playing cards. Then, on the advice of Ripon bhai, a familiar face at the ghat, we planted seedlings of various flowers and fruit. These plants now bear different kinds of flowers and fruit, and it's a pleasure to see. The ghat workers spend most of the day tending the plots together."

Journalist Ripon Howlader said: "Through an organisation, I have worked with street children at the launch ghat for a long time. I saw that launch ghat workers would lie or sit around after work, and some were addicted to drugs and gambling. So I decided to make a garden in front of the river port building to keep them away from bad company."

He said: "First we cleared land full of rubbish and I encouraged them to grow bottle gourd. With proper care, the gourd plants bore a lot of fruit, which the workers ate themselves and also gave to us. Since then they have regularly grown various vegetables there."

Ripon added: "Our colleagues collect seeds from different places for them. The garden has various flower and fruit trees, Bombai chillies, hybrid beans and local beans, among other vegetables. Planting hybrid beans for the first time gave a good yield: about 100 kg of beans from just a few plants, which have been shared with everyone, from the ghat workers onwards."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.