Independence from Agricultural Corporations

RESEARCH INITIATIVES BANGLADESH | Small-scale farmers make up about 90 per cent of all farmers in Bangladesh and make up even a larger share of the country’s food production. However, they face multiple disadvantages in comparison with the big industrialised agricultural estates. The looming crisis of producing more food on less land is increasing due to the demand of diverse food, climate change, politics and global market economy. The principles of agricultural production require a changing direction that can be enhanced through awareness and extension of the Agro-ecological principles among a variety of political, religious, ethnic, and other social groups.

The project by our partner Research Initiatives, Bangladesh (RIB) is running for several years. In 2020, we facilitate research to promote principles of agro-ecology as an alternative approach to agriculture production in districts of Nilphamari, Bogra, Sathkhira and the capital region of Dhaka. Through participative research with local communities, RIB develops sustainable methods of soil and water management, organic fertilizers and pest control as well as seeds resilient to the effects of climate change. As limited access to resources often intersects with social exclusion, RIB focuses especially on the needs of marginalized groups like women in agriculture, Dalit or the indigenous population.

RIB disseminates these findings through workshops, agro-ecology schools, exposure visits, farmer’s camp, seminars and a broad range of publications to a wider audience. Furthermore, our partner advocates these innovative methods of farming with other NGOs, politicians and the general public to contribute to a shift in public opinion on food security: away from reliance on large companies and market liberalisation towards support for small-scale farmers, which will strengthen food sovereignty as well as income security for millions.