By Tohura Khatun Lili from Rajshahi

In Rajshahi’s Namovhadra slum, 40-year-old Nilufa Begum lives a life shaped by river erosion and poverty. Originally from Rangpur, she lost everything to the river and moved with her family to a crowded slum without electricity or clean water. They survived by scavenging scrap to earn around ten to 12 thousand taka monthly.

But Nilufa wanted change. In 2024, she attended a BARCIK session on urban farming and seed sharing. Being inspired, she began using the small 3-katha plot next to her homestead. She planted gourds, bitter gourd, drumstick, pumpkin, building a bamboo trellis with BARCIK’s help and learning organic methods.

Despite teasing neighbors, goats, and rats destroying crops, she did not give up. By late 2024 she was able to sell her harvest earning Taka 1,500 taka from gourds in March, 600 taka from drumstick, and 2,000 taka from pumpkin. It helped her to meet food, medicine, and household needs while reducing her vegetable dependence on market.

Seeing her success other urban poor women are now following her lead, planting more and conserving seeds that enables them to farm their crops every year. However, Nilufa’s determination has sparked a quiet urban farming movement among the women in her community. This transformation has earned them dignity and respect in their family being able to contribute in their family.