A new programme for women farmers has begun in Koyra upazila of Khulna, where climate change, rising soil salinity and erratic rainfall put farming under constant strain. Agricare24, citing the Daily Bhorer Dak, reports that the Local Adaptation and Women's Climate Empowerment Programme is being carried out by Amal Foundation with support from Australian Aid.
It was launched on the afternoon of Tuesday 10 November in the hall of Sundarban Girls' Secondary School in Koyra. Upazila nirbahi officer Md. Abdullah Al Baki was chief guest, and upazila agriculture officer Tilok Kumar Ghosh, upazila women affairs officer Reshma Khatun and upazila project implementation officer Md. Abdullah Al Jabir spoke; project field coordinator Azizul Haque conducted the event.
Under the project, crops that can cope with salinity and changing weather, such as quinoa, sunflower and chia, will be grown on demonstration plots. Women farmers will get hands-on training, and a community seed bank will be set up to make seed available locally.
The programme also aims to raise the incomes of smallholder women by improving market links and marketing for what they grow. Alongside the farm work, it will run awareness activities for coastal women and adolescent girls on reproductive health, menstrual hygiene, women's rights and the prevention of gender-based violence.
Speakers said climate change, increasing salinity and irregular rainfall constantly challenge farming and livelihoods on the coast, making it urgent to spread climate-resilient farming methods and to increase women's leadership and participation in farm and household decisions.
Amal Foundation assistant director Sahara Jabin and other staff, government officials, journalists and women farmers attended the launch. The organisers hope that a partnership of government offices, development partners and the local community will strengthen coastal women farmers' ability to cope with climate risks.
Photo: Yahya / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Source: Agricare24
Comments
(0)