Sheep rearing, vegetable farming improve char economy

Char dwellers in Gaibandha have become self-reliant gradually through involvement in sheep rearing and vegetable farming activities.

Sources said, as the char land and the environment here is very suitable for vegetable and sheep farming, FRIENDSHIP, a leading non-government organisation which has been working for char dwellers of the district for over 20 years took the initiative to provide seeds of various vegetables to 210 char dwellers of the district so that the beneficiaries could be solvent economically.

Accordingly, FRIENDSHIP distributed quality seeds of various vegetables and high-breed ships to the selected char dwellers of Kamarjani union of Sadar upazila, Erendabari union of Fulchhari union and Horipur and Kapasia unions of Sundarganj upazilas of the district under Assistance for Sustainable Development (ASD) Project funded by Luxembourg FRIENDSHIP.

Earlier, the beneficiaries were imparted need base training on successful vegetable farming and sheep rearing at the initiative of the ASD project under the Climate Action Sector.

After receiving the assets from the project, the beneficiaries gave their attention to vegetable farming on their respective homesteads and sheep rearing on the char land at the direct supervision of the project officials and became successful.

 Now, the beneficiaries are earning economic profit from vegetable farming and sheep rearing and started changing their socio-economic condition as well.

Matizan Begum, a female beneficiary of char Motherbari under Horipur union of Sundarganj upazila said she along with other five members of her family had been passing her days with hardship. Her husband was a day labourer and used to eat hand to mouth.

In that situation, she started vegetable farming on her homestead and sheep rearing on the open char land taking the assets from the organisation. The number of sheep stood to six from one she said adding that she earned economic profit by selling four sheep.

After involving in income generating activities, she had enabled to overcome her poverty. At present, she is leading her family without any economic trouble.