Farmers and agroecology practitioners highlighted indigenous seeds, traditional knowledge and nature-based farming as tools for reducing costs and strengthening climate resilience.
A two-day training workshop titled ‘Agroecology and Climate Change Justice’ was held at the Borundi Agroecology Learning Center in Hatipara Union under Manikganj Sadar Upazila. The event was organised by BARCIK under the “People’s Led Agroecology for Climate Change Adaptation” programme.
Presided over by Shobha Rani Roy and moderated by BARCIK Associate Coordinator Satya Ranjan Saha, the workshop featured key discussions by Gosai Das Roy, Director of the Agroecology Learning Center; agricultural entrepreneur Shahidul Islam; farmers Monowara Begum and Ayeshah Begum; alongside BARCIK Associate Regional Coordinators Shimul Kumar Biswas, Shirin Akhtar and Moynal Hoque.
Speakers emphasised that soil health is central to protecting all forms of life and advocated for nature-based, farmer-centric agriculture. They highlighted that crop rotation and mixed cropping significantly reduce production costs while preserving seed diversity. Practising agroecology empowers farmers by ensuring self-reliance in seeds and organic fertilisers, allowing them to cultivate freely based on soil conditions.
Discussants also stressed leveraging traditional knowledge to build resilience against climate change. Local practices, such as cultivating flood-tolerant indigenous rice varieties (Hijal Digha, Digha, Bhauyala), timely jute farming, elevated bed vegetable cultivation and seed preservation, help farmers adapt to natural disasters. Speakers noted that women play a crucial role as safe custodians of indigenous seeds, which should be expanded through community seed-exchange initiatives.
Following the discussion, participants conducted field observations of the centre’s seed bank, vermicompost production, homestead vegetable and spice gardening, farmer-led participatory rice research, sack ginger cultivation and native poultry rearing. The programme concluded with an exchange of indigenous saplings, including bottle gourd, Noldog, Koia bean and Pushti bean, among the participating farmers.
