By Chompa Mallik, from Shyamnagar, Satkhira

Fazila Begum (42) is a determined woman living in Dathinakhali Alek Mor village of Burigoalini Union in the coastal Shyamnagar Upazila of Satkhira. Her husband, Sirajul Islam (50), works as a van puller, and they have a family of four. They own 15 kathas of land, of which 5 kathas are used for organic vegetable cultivation, while the remaining land is occupied by their homestead and a pond.

Surrounded by saline shrimp and crab farms, most residents in the village depend on the market. But Fazila, driven by passion and determination, has adapted to the challenging environment and grows vegetables organically. Despite the salinity, she cultivates crops in sacks, baskets, and elevated beds, showcasing her resilience and creativity.

She also rears ducks and chickens at home. Natural disasters and river erosion have taken away most of their household furniture and even a bed is a luxury they cannot afford. When her husband, suffering from spinal injury, was advised by a doctor to sleep on a bed, Fazila constructed one out of earth with help from her family.

Her greatest strength lies in the native seeds which she conserves with her own hands. Since joining in different progarms of BARCIK in 2025, she has received guidance on environment-friendly farming and seed conservation. Although another NGO proposed her to use hybrid seeds and chemical fertilizers, she declined. She realized such seeds create long-term dependency, degrade soil fertility, and erode seed sovereignty.

Fazila believes that the native seeds she conserves ensure not just healthy food, but also her family’s future security. Hybrid farming, she says, forces farmers like her to buy new seeds and chemicals every year, turning them into dependents which she terms as a modern-day slavery for small-scale farmers.

The vegetables Fazila produces not only nourish her own family but also inspire others in the community to take an interest in organic farming.

Fazila’s story teaches us that survival in agriculture is not just about technology rather it is about love for soil, nature, and one’s own seeds. Owning seeds means more than just production; it is a symbol of a farmer’s independence and dignity. Just as Fazila does not want to lose her seeds, we too must honor and conserve indigenous knowledge and native seeds.