By Shahidul Islam Shahid from Tanore, Rajshahi
At a time when rising farming costs, chemical dependence and climate change threaten food security, farmer Jitendranath Sutradhar, 65, is preserving traditional agricultural knowledge and promoting environment friendly farming in Gokul Mathura village, Tanore, Rajshahi. Rooted in generations of farming traditions, Sutradhar learned agriculture from his father and grandfather. He also developed skills in making traditional agricultural tools, including ploughs, hoes, harrows and bullock carts. He continues to help neighbouring farmers by making and sharing these tools free of charge. In 2015, he formed a farmers’ organization to promote sustainable farming and knowledge-sharing. The organization now has 200 members. Farmers exchange seeds, test diverse crops and identify varieties suitable for different soil conditions, drought and waterlogging. With BARCIK, the Gokul Mathura Agroecology Learning Centre (ALC) was established in 2024 under Sutradhar’s supervision. The centre promotes agroecology, seed conservation and practical learning.
Conserving biodiversity, sharing knowledge
Sutradhar has conserved 185 varieties of seeds, including rice, flowers, fruits, medicinal plants, trees and vegetables. His garden contains more than 100 crop varieties, including seven types of bananas, seven types of mangoes, three types of jackfruit and two types of lychee. He also grows diverse vegetables, spices and uncultivated edible plants. He uses organic methods to produce food without chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
His garden provides food for his family and neighbours, while selling vegetables and fruits generates more than Tk 100,000 annually. Sutradhar also encourages other farmers to adopt agroecological practices. He provides seeds and organic fertilizers free of charge for trials, trains farmers to prepare organic pest-control solutions and promotes vermicomposting. He has helped 16 farmers to establishing vermicompost production, and eight are now producing and using it themselves. Youth from the local Shopnochari youth organization are learning these practices through hands-on activities. Students from Rajshahi University and other educational institutions also visit the centre to learn about local agricultural knowledge and biodiversity.
Farming with independence
Sutradhar believes that agriculture should not depend entirely on costly external inputs. Traditional knowledge, diverse crops and locally adapted seeds can help farmers to reduce costs, protect biodiversity and produce safer food. While many farmers struggle with rising input prices and dependence on chemical-based farming, he continues to demonstrate that agroecology can strengthen farmers’ control over seeds, production and livelihoods. His work shows how preserving local knowledge and sharing practical experience can contribute to sustainable agriculture and food sovereignty.