Gunjon Rema, from Kalmakanda, Netrakona

In Kalmakanda Upazila of Netrokona, the Taranagar Seed Bank run by the Mikraka Women’s Organization has distributed 80 kg of ‘Malshira’ rice seed among 12 interested farmers for the current Aman season recently. Local farmers participated enthusiastically, seeing it as a positive step toward sustainable agriculture.

Speakers at the event highlighted that the distributed seed is locally selected and conserved, making it climate-resilient and relatively high-yielding. The seed bank’s system of exchange and conservation encourages farmers to develop their own seed management, reducing production costs.

Representatives from Mikraka Women’s Organization, Sachetan Nari Sangathan, APSAN Nari Sangathan, Bair Shilpo Sangathan, and BARCIK were present at the event.

This seed bank, operated with BARCIK’s support, is a self-managed initiative by local farmers aimed at promoting sustainability in agriculture, protecting farmers’ rights, and conserving agricultural biodiversity.