By S.M. Osman Gani Sohag, from Shyamnagar, Satkhira

A youth workshop on agroecology was held in Shyamnagar, Satkhira recently in the premises of Atulia Sohorabia Dakhil Madrasa. It was jointly organized by the Sundarbans Student Solidarity Team (SSST) and the Shyamnagar Upazila Youth Volunteer Coordination Committee, with facilitation support from BARCIK. The workshop was presided over by SSST’s Member Secretary, Md. Sayeedul Islam.

The detailed session on agroecology was conducted by BARCIK’s Program Officer, Champa Mallick. At the beginning of her discussion, she explained the importance of agroecology, describing it as a combination of science, practice, and movement. She emphasized that the core goal of agroecology is to integrate farmers’ traditional knowledge to address climate change challenges, promote adaptive farming practices, and engage youth in social movements for the preservation of agriculture, food systems, and ecosystems.

She further explained that the interconnection and interdependence between living organisms and their natural environment form an ecosystem. In agroecology, the primary focus is on conserving agricultural biodiversity by maintaining soil health, conserving biodiversity, recycling organic matter, and ensuring sustainable food and nutrition cycles within the agricultural system.

Before the main session, a welcome speech was delivered by BARCIK’s youth organizer, S.M. Osman Gani. The workshop was coordinated by SSST Atulia Unit’s General Secretary, Md. Zahid Hasan. Over fifty youth volunteers participated, including key SSST members such as Tithi Rani from the Upazila Unit, Atulia Unit’s Organizational Secretary Abu Musa, Women’s Affairs Secretary Sonali Parveen, and Publicity Secretary Md. Masud Rana.