A learning fair in coastal Bagerhat showcased climate-resilient agriculture, connecting farmers with practical technologies, weather services and nature-based solutions to protect livelihoods amid rising salinity and extreme weather events today.
Bangladesh’s coastal districts are among the most climate-vulnerable regions in South Asia, grappling with rising salinity, erratic rainfall and frequent extreme weather events. Against this backdrop, a learning fair held in Bagerhat focused on equipping farmers with practical, field-tested solutions to protect livelihoods and strengthen local food security.
CARE Bangladesh organised a Climate-Resilient Agriculture Practices and Learning Exchange Fair at Chila Union in Mongla upazila on Tuesday under the NABAPALLAB project. The fair took place at Keyabunia field from 10:00 am and brought together farmers, local authorities and development partners to exchange knowledge on sustainable and modern agricultural technologies.
Ten stalls showcased a wide range of climate-adaptive agriculture and livelihood innovations, attracting strong interest from local farmers. Exhibits included modern tools for canal excavation and tree plantation, salt-tolerant crop varieties, improved cooking stoves, solar-powered irrigation pumps and aerators, adaptive kitchen gardening techniques, climate-resilient and disability-friendly sanitation systems, vermicompost and organic fertilisers, bamboo and cane-based household products and sustainable livestock-rearing practices.
A dedicated booth provided climate and weather information services. Through on-site registration, farmers will receive timely weather forecasts and climate alerts directly from CARE Bangladesh, enabling more informed agricultural planning and risk reduction.
The NABAPALLAB project, Nature-Based Adaptation towards Prosperous and Adept Lives and Livelihoods in Bangladesh, is a CARE-led initiative funded by the UK’s FCDO. It aims to build climate resilience in ecologically critical and climate-vulnerable areas such as the Sundarbans and Hakaluki Haor by integrating nature-based solutions with community-led adaptation. The project promotes sustainable livelihoods in farming and fishing, supports practices such as biogas use and vermicomposting and contributes to ecosystem restoration to address salinity intrusion, flooding and biodiversity loss.
The programme was moderated by Hamida Akter Bandhan, Project Officer (Capacity Building) of DSK. Mongla Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sharmin Akter Sumi attended as chief guest, while Assistant Commissioner (Land) Nawsina Arif and Upazila Agriculture Officer Prashanta Howlader were present as special guests. Representatives from CARE Bangladesh, including Lutfa Parvin, Sajal Kumar Saha, Habibur Rahman and Subash Chandra Roy, along with Senior Upazila Representative Abdullah Al Amin and partner organisations IDE, DSK and CNRS, also attended. Local dignitaries and a large number of farmers participated in the event.
Speaking at the fair, CARE Bangladesh representative Sajal Kumar Saha said the organisation has been regularly organising agricultural learning and exchange initiatives across Khulna, Satkhira and Bagerhat districts. He said the fair in Chila Union enables farmers to gain hands-on experience with modern technologies promoted under the NABAPALLAB project and apply them directly in their own fields.
UNO Sharmin Akter Sumi praised the initiative, noting that the demonstrations of climate-adaptive agricultural practices are helping grassroots communities access appropriate technologies with lasting livelihood benefits in this climate-vulnerable area.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Prashanta Howlader said the fair presented practical, field-based solutions to modernise agriculture. He encouraged farmers to adopt suitable technologies to improve productivity and resilience in the face of climate change.
Organisers said similar learning exchanges will continue across coastal and wetland regions, supporting locally led adaptation and contributing to Bangladesh’s broader climate resilience goals.
