Bangladesh Dewanganj
$42,846 needed of $78,156
Implementing Organization
World Renew
Program Summary
This nutrition-focused food security program is designed to build the capacity of farmers and their families under the leadership of a People’s Institution named “Rangdhanu Society”. This People’s Institution was formed a few years ago under the Integrated Community Development Program that was funded by World Renew and implemented by local partner PARI.
This program helps participants to identify their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges and prepares them to practice sustainable agriculture methods to ensure food security throughout the year. The program is forming Agriculture Forums under the leadership of the People’s Institution, and building their capacities to network with the agriculture and livestock offices of the local government. This allows the Agriculture Forums to have access to available resources such as training and technical support and to build a functional relationship with the local government.
Through training and workshops, the program is equipping the Agriculture Forums with agriculture techniques such as pile composting, worm composting, and the preparation of herbal pesticides to minimize the use of chemical substances, leading to increases in production and income.
This program also prioritizes the inclusion of vulnerable groups through the People’s Institutions and Agriculture Forums, including women, single mothers and people with disabilities, so that they can also have access to the agricultural activities promoted by the program, including production, marketing and decision making at family and community level. It is changing their roles from being dependent to becoming active participants in ensuring food security.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, local inhabitants are still facing challenges in maintaining a healthy life style, due to the shortage of nutritious foods and the lack of job opportunities. This program is working to build the resilience of the target communities by changing the existing social system and transforming their lives. The program aims to equip communities to regain their strength and ability to cope with crisis by reducing the gaps created by COVID-19.
The program is being implemented in three unions; Chukaibari, Chinaduli and Dewanganj under Dewanganj Upazila in Jamalpur District of Bangladesh.
Sureja's Story - Bangladesh Dewanganj Program
Success Stories
To Fulfill Dreams, Start by Dreaming Big
Parul is in the process of fulfilling her dreams of meeting her family’s needs by earning income through her own efforts.
A few years ago, Parul and her new husband lost their house and land to erosion on the banks of the Jamuna River and had to erect a structure to live in by the side of the road. That’s where they continued to live while her daughter and son were born. Her husband worked as a day laborer and the couple struggled to keep their household going on his limited wages.
Parul joined a women’s group through the Dewanganj Agricultural Development Program run by local partner PARI. She and her fellow group members saved money together. She faithfully attended the group’s meetings, listening attentively to the various presentations on the benefits of agriculture, poultry farming and vegetable farming techniques. She completed training on raising ducks and chickens and kitchen gardening and applied her new knowledge at home.
She bought five chickens with her savings and kept in regular contact with various consulting livestock officials and learned to vaccinate her own birds. Her flock eventually grew to 35 chickens, and she got good yields from her vegetables. With proceeds from the sale of 12 chickens and her excess produce, she was able to buy two goats. Her family’s situation has already improved through better nutrition and increased income.
As she continues to raise chickens and goats, Parul consults regularly with the livestock officers to make sure she’s caring for the animals correctly. The next portion of fulfilling her dreams has to do with saving enough money to buy a piece of land with her own earnings and building a home there.
Parul is grateful to PARI for encouraging her to act on her dreams. “I hope that this organization will contribute to creating such opportunities for more families.”
Bangladesh Dewanganj Program
Led by World Renew and Local Partner Participatory Action for Rural Innovation (PARI)