Ground truthing our case studies with local stakeholders
Background:
The case study validation workshop was held on 23rd August 2023 at RDRS conference room, Rangpur. All desired participants actively participated in the workshop. About 20 farmers, traders, NGOs participated from various parts of the Rangpur division. Total four case study groups attended the meeting and they were quite far from each other. These groups are summer chilli, late variety tomato, sweet pumpkin, and fodder growers. From RUPANTAR project Dr Kuhu Chatterjee (Regional Project Coordinator) oversaw the program as an external member. They country partner and case study implementation team members including Wakil and Mojammel from BAU, Mamunur Rashid from HSTU and Pallab Goswami, RDRS. In the validation workshop the farmers and traders shared their views on respective cases that are described below:
Case Study#1: Summer Chilli:
Summer Chilli is profitable and provides employment to women and youth as it is hand plucked and they get paid for per Kg. The summer chilli is grown in upland areas and provides good income. However, they have not received technical assistance regarding varieties and agronomic practices. Although new daily market has been developed in nearby village (Faridpur) but they have lack good market information. They face market risks as and when the Govt imports chillis. Untimely rainfall destroys the chilli sometimes. All the participants informed that earnings from summer chilli cultivation contributed a lot to their livelihood improvement. This year they received extra-ordinary benefits by cultivating chilli. Some years they could not make good profit. Chilli cultivation helps them to increase the farm size as well as household condition. Interestingly, other participant particularly from fodder case study group suggested different variety which has yield advantage and plucking convenience. In this variety the chilli fruit stay in downward and plucking can be done without affecting the branches. However, this variety is not so spicy compared to the variety they presently cultivating in (Faridpur village) Parbatipur upazilla.
Case Study#2: Fodder Cultivation
The upland areas of the study villages (Badarganj Upazilla) are used for Napier grass production. They claimed that the profit is double of the investment. The market for fodder is well developed. It provides an opportunity for women and youth to be engaged in the production and marketing. The first adopter of growing grass, Abdul Hi was present in the meeting. Now more than 100 farmers in the area grow fodder. There is market risk when fodder is surplus (during rainy season), but they are storing it now. The grass is also affected by untimely rainfall. Stall feeding of the livestock is beneficial to the rice and other crops as they don’t graze anymore. Accordingly, livestock population has increased in this locality. Participant reported that before adopting Napier grass there was a tendency to thief rice stubble from the field to feed livestock. This has happened when they can’t graze livestock due to continuous rainfall. Fodder business get popularity in this locality and one of the better livelihood options. However, they cannot sell it to far distance due to bulkiness and difficult to transport (not cost effective). They think that preparing silage might help them to earn more profit. There is a lack to chopping technology, women still chop the grass manually. However, women’s burden has reduced as they need to collect grass from the field or graze livestock.
Case Study: Late variety of Tomato
The late varieties tomato in Haribhasa union was introduced by farmer themselves who learnt farming technique from neighboring farmers of Chaklahat union. Later on, farmers got support from NCDP (Northwest Crop Diversification Project) of Government of Bangladesh (GoB)where DAE provided training & inputs and RDRS provided credit support by the financial assistance of RAKUB (Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank). Another driver was farmers innovation to keep tomato in local made sheds for longer period (around two months) depends on the maturity and outer shell condition. They use cascading growing technology so that the market is not flooded with tomatoes it onetime. They pick unripe tomatoes and store it in the Sheds. They reported that Indian variety of tomatoes give higher yield. They purchase seeds from nearby country boarder.
Here women and youth do the grading. The income is double that of the investment. Participants asked for government support to build fruit storages facilities so that they can store tomatoes for longer time. They sell tomatoes to different parts of the country including the capital city. They mostly earn higher profits but sometimes go down due to imports from neighboring country, India.
Case Study: Sweet Pumpkin
Sweet Pumpkin was introduced by an NGO Practical Action along with RDRS. Pumpkin is grown so much in this region which is why a private company established namely ‘Pumpkin Plus’. This company provides inputs and buys the produces. Rich farmers have taken additional Char lands on lease to grow pumpkin as it is profitable. The cost of cultivation is low. Sweet pumpkin areas has increased while tobacco and potato areas have decreased. Gradually, the Department of Agricultural Extension came on board. The whole Char land is covered with pumpkin cultivation. Donors like the Swiss Dev Corporation has introduced solar irrigation in the region.
Common Learning
One factor common to all the enterprises except fodder when grown over many years develop pests and viral diseases. Technical backstopping is essential for the diversification to continue. One of the highlights of the workshop was that stakeholders from different parts of Rangpur division met for the first time. They were keen to learn from each other who were growing different commodities. A platform for sharing between the stakeholders is very useful. Accordingly, they exchanged their contact number for future communication.