By Sultana Khatun from Rajshahi
Tetulia Danga village in Poba, Rajshahi, faces a severe water shortage due to its elevated landscape. Tube wells and ponds often dry up, making rice cultivation difficult. As drought becomes more common due to climate change, farmers are exploring alternative crops.
With the objective to address these challenges, villagers formed the Tetulia Danga Comprehensive Village Development Organization. With support from BARCIK, the community is testing climate-resilient crops such as pulses, spices, sesame, and sugarcane.
One such farmer is 20-year-old Ariful Islam. Alongside his studies, he grows vegetables and raises pigeons. This year, he cultivated sugarcane on four decimals of land for the first time. He purchased seeds from a nearby village and exchanged knowledge with other farmers. This cultivation makes him profitable leading him to expand this cultivation in the next year.
He said, “This was a learning experiment and the result was very good. Next year, I plan to cultivate sugarcane on one bigha of land.” Local farmer Monir Sheikh said, “No one here normally grows sugarcane. Seeing this success, many farmers will be encouraged.”
BARCIK has been working in the village since 2016, raising awareness and supporting farmers to adapt to climate challenges. As a result, villagers are now more confident and willing to adopt diverse crops that require less water and offer better profit.
Inspired by Ariful’s experience, at least five more farmers plan to cultivate sugarcane next season using his seeds and learning from his experience.
