Vegetable cultivation on earthen basin holds new hope for livelihood
Our Correspondent | Monday, 28 July 2008
KHULNA, June 27: The people of waterlogged village Bagdanga under Keshebpur Upazila under Jessore district have changed their lot by cultivating vegetables on large earthen basins put on triangular bamboo stands under thatched roofs and on nearby yards.
Lands of about a million people of Keshabpur, Monirampur, Jhikargacha, Sharsha, Tala, Kalaroa and Fultala Upazilas of Khulna, Jessore and Satkhira districts on both sides of the Kabotak river remain inundated all the year round for about last two decades and the people have been affected seriously.
The people of the area could not cultivate their land for the last fifteen years. People of this area have become no jobs either. Moreover waterlogging has also gave rise to tropical diseases and the people began to leave the area.
The landless people, day labourers and the unemployed have found out a new hope for their livelihood by cultivating vegetables on large earthen basins in the village of Bagdanga at a minimum cost. A triangle shaped bamboo stand is made beside thatched roof and yard and the earthen basin is placed on the bamboo stand.
At present five kinds of vegetables -- pumpkin, chalkumra, uchhey, puishak and jhinga -- are being cultivated on the earthen basins. About 30 kgs Puishak 8- 10 kgs uchhey, 25-30 pieces of jihinga are grown within three months from each of the earthen basin. Farmers use cow dung, lime, ashes and mahogany seeds are used as fertilisers in the earthen basins. The villagers consume vegetables themselves and also earn some money by selling extra vegetables in the local market.
Total 150 pieces of large earthen basins have been supplied to the 51 families of Bagdanga village to cultivate vegetables in August 2007. A voluntary organisation Coastal Development Partnerships (CDP) is implementing the project with the help of Acton Aid (NGO). A social welfare organisation Paiza is directly supervising the project as a partner. Encouraged by the success, the people of the area have started the cultivating Chili, Tomato and beans from the beginning of the current year. The villagers sell the vegetables in the local market after meeting their family demand.
The villagers said that it cost Tk 236 to set up a large earthen basin on the bamboo stand. After that they could earn more than Tk 600 in two seasons of the year.
Lands of about a million people of Keshabpur, Monirampur, Jhikargacha, Sharsha, Tala, Kalaroa and Fultala Upazilas of Khulna, Jessore and Satkhira districts on both sides of the Kabotak river remain inundated all the year round for about last two decades and the people have been affected seriously.
The people of the area could not cultivate their land for the last fifteen years. People of this area have become no jobs either. Moreover waterlogging has also gave rise to tropical diseases and the people began to leave the area.
The landless people, day labourers and the unemployed have found out a new hope for their livelihood by cultivating vegetables on large earthen basins in the village of Bagdanga at a minimum cost. A triangle shaped bamboo stand is made beside thatched roof and yard and the earthen basin is placed on the bamboo stand.
At present five kinds of vegetables -- pumpkin, chalkumra, uchhey, puishak and jhinga -- are being cultivated on the earthen basins. About 30 kgs Puishak 8- 10 kgs uchhey, 25-30 pieces of jihinga are grown within three months from each of the earthen basin. Farmers use cow dung, lime, ashes and mahogany seeds are used as fertilisers in the earthen basins. The villagers consume vegetables themselves and also earn some money by selling extra vegetables in the local market.
Total 150 pieces of large earthen basins have been supplied to the 51 families of Bagdanga village to cultivate vegetables in August 2007. A voluntary organisation Coastal Development Partnerships (CDP) is implementing the project with the help of Acton Aid (NGO). A social welfare organisation Paiza is directly supervising the project as a partner. Encouraged by the success, the people of the area have started the cultivating Chili, Tomato and beans from the beginning of the current year. The villagers sell the vegetables in the local market after meeting their family demand.
The villagers said that it cost Tk 236 to set up a large earthen basin on the bamboo stand. After that they could earn more than Tk 600 in two seasons of the year.