By Poli Rani Pramanik from Rajshahi
A 19-member delegation from Mukti Women and Children Development Organization located in Kushtia recently visited BARCIK’s Agroecology Learning Centers (ALCs), Shatobari initiatives, and vermicompost production sites in Rajshahi.
During the visit, BARCIK staff members Amreto Kumar Sarker, Touhidul Islam, and Poly Rani guided the delegation, sharing experiences on production techniques, marketing processes, and community-based resource management.
The visiting team included Mukti’s Executive Director Momtaz Ara Begum, Project Coordinator Umme Salma, Young Women’s Resource Person Shibli Akter, and Md. Limon Sheikh, Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer of Mirpur, Kushtia, along with 12 local farmers.
The team visited Shatobari homes of Bilkis Begum and Shyamoli Begum in Karigor Para village, Paba upazila, as well as ALC sites managed by Shilpi Begum of Taluk Dharmapur and Sultana Khatun of Bil Nepal Para village. The ALCs showcased seed banks, uncultivated vegetable plots, native fruit and flower trees, livestock, and medicinal plants.
While expressing her impressions, Mukti’s Executive Director said, “BARCIK’s initiative is remarkable. If these ALC models can be replicated in every household, the dream of achieving food sovereignty in Bangladesh can become a reality.”
The Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer said that BARCIK’s demonstration plots play a vital role in agricultural development. He particularly praised the revival of native varieties of fruits and vegetables and the practice of seed exchange, which are crucial for biodiversity conservation. He further noted that the visit had inspired them to collaborate with Mukti and the Department of Agricultural Extension to spread similar initiatives across Kushtia villages, turning them greener and more sustainable.
