By Parboti Rani Singh from Netrakona
Rural women have long played a vital role in agriculture, ensuring food security for their families and communities. Among them, Sahida Akter stands out for her commitment to safe and nature based farming practices.
Sahida Begum (38), wife of Abdus Salam, lives in Konapara village under Swaromushia Union of Atpara Upazila in Netrokona District. With limited formal education, she could not study far, but she dreams of providing higher education for her three sons and one daughter.
She owns 100 decimals of land and cultivates vegetables throughout the year on 20 decimals, including her homestead following agroecological principles. Experienced in conserving rice and vegetable seeds, she carefully stores indigenous varieties for future cultivation. While chemical pesticides dominate modern agriculture, Sahida uses cow dung as organic fertilizer and natural alternatives such as ash and plant-based remedies instead of harmful chemicals.
She grows a wide variety of vegetables throughout the year, including pumpkin, eggplant, spinach, mustard greens, tomatoes, beans, gourds, chili, okra, and leafy greens. She also cultivates rice varieties such as BRRI-28, BRRI-29, BRRI-34, BRRI-49, and BRRI-58. After meeting her family’s needs, she sells surplus produce in the market and often exchanges vegetables and seeds with neighbors.
In addition to farming, she raises three cows, 15 chickens, and 15 ducks. She meets much of her family protein needs from their own production, including milk, eggs, fish from their pond, and seasonal dried fish. Shahida also maintains fruit and medicinal trees around her homestead.
As a member of the Konapara Organic Women Farmers’ Association, Sahida strengthened her knowledge of organic farming and native seed conservation. She is committed to ensuring that the food her family and community consume is safe and chemical-free.
Through dedication and sustainable practices, Sahida Akter has built a model environment-friendly farm, inspiring other farmers in her community to adopt safe agricultural methods.
