Slum-dwellers of Rajshahi find way to food security

Many slum dwellers in Rajshahi city, especially women, have discovered a path to both economic and food security through their involvement in vegetable cultivation.

With this venture, the poverty-prone people are seen becoming social contributors after meeting their own needs for the last couple of years.

Shah Alam, a resident of Boharampur slum, has been cultivating safe vegetables, including bottle gourd, bean, lady’s finger and green chilli, in five carets for the last two years and become successful in this field.

He distributes his vegetables among his fellow people after meeting his own family’s needs. “I also earn money through selling the harvested vegetables frequently,” said Alam, a driver by profession.

“Organic farming is not only safe but also very profitable. If the weather is favourable and no natural disaster takes place, I can reap double profit from what I invest in growing vegetables,” he explained.

He is one of a handful of cultivators in the slum areas using organic methods and has become one of the most successful vegetable farmers.

He is earning money through selling varieties of vegetables, including red amaranth, spinach, bottle gourd and Indian spinach at present.

With full support from his wife and children, he is growing chemical-free organic vegetables.

“I’ve learnt about the importance of bio fertiliser, seed conservation and seed exchange,” he said.

He has also learnt about proper and sustainable use of homestead lands and the rooftop of his thatched house to protect its productivity.

Golapi Begum, another resident of Namo Bhadra slum, said they benefited enormously after cultivating both winter and summer vegetables by adopting modern methods almost round the year.

“I cultivated bottle gourd, cucumber, and coriander this year, and I got expected production,” she said, adding they are getting green, fresh and safe vegetables regularly protecting them from various diseases caused by malnutrition.

Begum said, “We have been producing chemical-free vegetables, using organic fertiliser. We are also selling some vegetables in the local market after meeting the family’s demand.”

Inspired, many other fellow people have expressed their interest in producing chemical-free vegetables by using organic methods.

In a choked voice, she stated that her previous life wasn’t pleasant and she struggled to enhance her family income.