By Subir Kumar Sarker & Shaymel Hasda
A colorful fair showcasing monsoon flowers and edible uncultivated plants was held at the Joynagar Agroecology Learning Center in Putail Union of Manikganj Sadar upazila. The event was organized by the members of Shotobari (Nutrition bank) and adolescent girls from Manta, Joynagar, and Begmanagar villages, with support from BARCIK.
Carrying flowers and uncultivated plants collected from homesteads and roadsides, women and youth gathered in the morning and decided to celebrate the fair on boats, turning it into a festive occasion. Discussions took place between elders and youth on the variety of flowers and uncultivated plants found during the monsoon months of Shraban and Bhadra.
Subir Kumar Sarker, Program Officer of BARCIK, said, “Bangladesh is a land of seasonal diversity. Once, different flowers bloomed in different seasons, but climate change has disrupted this cycle.” He went on saying, “Flowers have cultural, religious, and medicinal value, while also supporting bees in honey collection and pollination. We must all come forward to conserving and protecting these natural resources.”
Women farmers Basana Bishwas and Surbana Biswas said,“Many flowers exist in our country, but people, especially the younger generation, do not even know their names. Through such fairs, they will learn about flowers, fruits, and their preservation.”
Adolescent participants Marufa Akter and Rima Akter shared that they collected flowers from their homesteads and roadsides but discovered many new names and uses of flowers through the discussions with senior farmers.
Discussants of the event also highlighted the value of uncultivated plants. These grow naturally around homesteads, ponds, canals, field edges, and roadsides without the use of fertilizers or pesticides, making them safe and nutritious. Many possess medicinal values and are used in treating both humans and livestock.
