By Sattaranjan Saha, from Harirampur, Manikganj
A field day and Nabanna (harvest) festival were recently held at the farmer-led experimental rice research plot in Barundi, Hatipara Union, Manikganj, organized by the local farmers’ group and BARCIK.
The event, presided over by Baidyanath Sarkar, president of the Barundi Farmers’ Organization, celebrated the selection of rice varieties and the harvest of Aman paddy.
Farmers from Manikganj harvested varieties such as Hizal Digha, Digha, Gosai, Depor, Amshail, and Sadapolao. Livestock feed was dried and stored, while households prepared traditional Nabanna dishes including pitha, payesh, and khichuri, blending agricultural productivity with local cultural traditions. The festival provided an opportunity for farmers to exchange knowledge on rice variety selection, seed conservation, and organic cultivation practices, including the use of vermicompost and cow dung fertilizers.
Eighty-two local rice varieties were observed and assessed at the experimental plot. Agricultural experts and officials, including Deputy Director of Agriculture Shahjahan Siraj and District Training Officer D.A.E. Motiar Rahman, highlighted that the farmer-led research uses fully organic methods. Farmers cultivate rice seedlings from their own conserved seeds, prepare fields with organic fertilizers, and monitor crop resilience against natural disasters like floods, heavy rainfall, and droughts.
The event emphasized the conservation of crop biodiversity, reduction of market dependency, and the promotion of community-led agroecology. Farmers freely exchange knowledge and support one another, helping to safeguard traditional practices while adapting to climate challenges.
