DAE, BRAC Bank help uplift lives of 1,230 farmers

In a pioneering move, the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), in partnership with BRAC Bank, has introduced a novel method that allows farmers in the country to cultivate crops and vegetables in land typically remaining unutilised due to climate-induced elongated waterlogging.
DAE, the largest public-sector agricultural extension service provider, launched floating bed farming, dali (basket) and sac gardening, homestead gardening, rooftop gardening, etc. which enabled marginalised farmers to use swampy land for cultivation of different varieties of crops that can withstand extreme conditions.
DAE has already trained 1,230 farmers in Khulna, Gopalganj, Madaripur, Rajbari, Faridpur, Chandpur, Sirajganj, Tangail, Bagerhat and Natore for cultivating sunflower, bitter gourd, bottle gourd, cucumber and other cash crops and vegetables.
This has brought delights to farmers, who could not grow anything on the land as it remained inundated for eight months in a year.
Md. Sabbir Hossain, Deputy Managing Director and COO of BRAC Bank, stated: "This collaboration is primed to substantially enhance farmers' yields, enabling them to better endure the harsh realities of climate change.
We are encouraged by the results in the field and the life-changing impact it brings to the smallholder farmers.
We will continue to work with DAE to make farmers more prepared to fight climate change onslaught."