GAIBANDHA, Nov 2, 2022 (BSS) - Char dwellers are becoming self-reliant
gradually through involving 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
organization which has been working for char dwellers of the district over 20
years took 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 seed of various vegetables and
high breed ship 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 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 the 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 organization. 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.

LIKE Matizan, many other selected women have become solvent after getting
involved in the income generating activities initiated by FRIENDSHIP's ASD
Project, said Dibacar Biswas, project manager.

Similar activities are also being implemented for 750 char families of Sadar,
Chilmari and Roumary upazilas of Kurigram district from 2017, he also said.