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DHAKA, March  29, 2025 (BSS)—In ancient times, cultivation was practised with seeds sown by women. After that, people progressed from animal husbandry to agricultural civilization, but it is very easy to imagine the role of women in agriculture.
 
Agriculture is also important for women in rural Bangladesh among many other works.  
Starting from seed preservation and sowing, women play a unique role in planting, irrigation, harvesting and even marketing. But times have changed. Now agricultural scientists are making important contributions not only in seed preservation or ancillary work but also in agricultural research. One such torchbearer is Homayra Jahan Sanam.
 
Born and raised in a remote village of the agricultural township of Haor, she grew up with the smell of the sweet soil of the village and through hard struggle. Hailing from the village Boroi under Dharmapasha upazila in Sunamganj district, Sanam now is the pride of Bangladesh. She has made the country's name shine by playing a special role in agricultural research in the Asia-Pacific region.
 
Homayra Jahan Sanam is the first Bangladeshi woman to join the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI), an international agricultural research organization, as a technical officer.
 
It was learned that Sanam spent her childhood in the remote Haor area of Sunamganj. She had to walk three kilometres every day to go to school from her village. Higher education opportunities for girls in the village were limited, but Sanam's indomitable willpower and dreams could not stop her.
 
“I also had to face obstacles in getting admission to the university, but I always had my mother by my side. However, after getting my admission to the university, my father also supported me continuously,” she added.
 
Sanam enrolled in Sylhet Agricultural University. She completed her bachelor's degree in agriculture and a master's degree in entomology. She moved forward with a new dream - agricultural research.
 
"Since I was born on the banks of the Haor, I had some experience with agriculture. However, studying agriculture gave me a new opportunity to learn about all the scientific aspects of farming,” Sanam further said.
 
She started her career as a program officer in Bangladesh at the Center for Agriculture and Biosciences International. In just one year, Sanam made her place in the international community by proving her efficiency and dedication.
 
In the meantime, Sanam joined APAARI as a technical officer in 2024. She continues to play an important role in agricultural research and innovation in the Asia-Pacific region. Her work has played a commendable role in combating the effects of climate change, managing natural resources and ensuring sanitary and phytosanitary standards in agricultural trade.
 
Referring to the ILO Labor Force Survey in 2013, Sanam highlighted the contribution of women in agriculture. She said that according to that survey, out of a total of 12 million female workers in Bangladesh, 74 per cent, or about 9.2 million women, are involved in agriculture, fisheries and social forestry.
 
Women's participation in overall agricultural management (agriculture-forestry-fishery sector) has increased to a large extent. However, it is unfortunate that the labour provided by this large group of people in the agricultural sector is not properly evaluated institutionally
 
That is why Sanam's dream in the future is to increase women's participation in agriculture and build a technology-based sustainable agricultural system. Using her experience and research, she wants to enrich the agricultural sector of Bangladesh in the future.

Tamal Lata Aditya, Director (Research) of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, believes that the advancement of women in agricultural research will have a positive impact on the entire agricultural sector. Aditya, a former student of Bangladesh Agricultural University said, “ now the perspective of society has changed. Opportunities have increased.”
 
“When we were studying in 1987, 10 to 12 per cent of female students used to get admitted. Now the advancement of female students in agricultural education will have a positive impact on the entire agricultural sector. ‘In the continuation of this, women are now doing well in agricultural education, including the production of new varieties,” she added.
 
People like Sanam have proven that through determination and hard work, anyone can take themselves to unique heights. Her path is a bright inspiration for women in Bangladesh.