Farming a Future: Young and Old farmers Work Side-by-Side
By Courtney Clark
January 2009

Despite a tropical climate that might seem ideal for farming, Bangladesh is exceedingly disadvantaged. Northern Bangladesh in particular is especially prone to flooding. While farming is the major source of livelihood there, seasonal food shortages are a fact of life. Now, in districts like Thakurgaon and Lalmonirhat, USC is piloting a program to help young women develop farming skills suited to the precarious agriculture of the region.

USC has been working in northern Bangladesh for years, supporting the Lifeskills and Education for Adolescents Development (LEAD) program. Every year, more than 14,000 teenage girls from poor farming families take part in the program; a mix of basic education and life skills training geared to prepare girls for the challenges of adulthood. Once they complete the 18-month course, graduates can continue to learn through a network of Adolescent Resource Centres (ARCs). ARCs provide a community space where girls can socialize, receive health care, get legal advice, and learn employment skills.

Recognizing the importance of agriculture in the lives of these young women, USC wanted to ensure the ARCs were providing appropriate skills training. Some of the girls had attended organic farming workshops, but many wanted to learn more. So last year, village leaders and girls from two of the ARCs met with older farmers to take stock of the crops and farming methods used in the area.

As they shared their experiences, it became clear that traditional knowledge, skills, and even agricultural diversity were not being passed on to the younger generation. They spoke of the neem tree, traditionally used as a natural pesticide, which has almost entirely disappeared. They noted that many indigenous rice varieties had all but vanished. Only one girl spoke about how her mother taught her to select and store seeds; the others had no such traditional skill.

They also agreed to begin experimenting with organic farming to help reduce costs associated with chemical pesticides and fertilizers. They committed to share this message with others in their communities.

Now, 278 girls from those two ARCs are learning how to save local seed varieties for use in small homestead vegetables gardens. They are planting gardens using only organic fertilizer, local seeds, and traditional farming techniques. Older farmers are sharing what they know, and together they are finding out how young people can adapt their knowledge and skills to today’s farming needs.

This Inter-generational learning is helping build skills and create opportunities for the young women involved. It’s also providing farming communities with a new way to conserve traditional seed and knowledge, building on their proud, rich heritage.