By Ranjit Barman, from Shyamnagar, Satkhira
A field-level youth training workshop on agroecology was organized by BARCIK in Srifolkati village of Shyamnagar Upazila, Satkhira.
The workshop brought together young men and women from different unions of the upazila. Participants received hands-on training on environment-friendly farming practices, sustainable crop management, improving soil fertility through natural methods, biodiversity conservation, and household and homestead-based green initiatives including pond-embankment cultivation.
The session was chaired by Govinda Mondol, coordinator of Srifolkati Agroecology Learning Centre. The main training was conducted by Shankar Mrong, Associate Regional Coordinator of BARCIK Netrokona Resource Centre. He emphasized that agroecological methods are essential for ensuring food security in the climate-vulnerable coastal region. He said that reducing chemical dependency and adopting nature-based farming can increase production and significantly reduce costs.
Speakers included teacher Ranjit Barman, BARCIK Associate Regional Coordinator Ramkrishna Jowarder, Programme Officer Maruf Hossain Milon, Field Facilitator Barsha Gain, and youth organizer S.M. Osman Gani.
Speakers highlighted that the future depends on the youth. With increased awareness and active involvement, young people can help protect the environment and ecosystems. They also stressed that youths can become entrepreneurs through organic and nature-based agriculture reducing unemployment and creating job opportunities for others while contributing to biodiversity and Sundarbans conservation.
During the day-long practical training, participants observed various ecological farming techniques in demonstration plots and had the opportunity to learn directly by doing.