CASE STUDY
Strengthening Farming and Nutrition Knowledge in Bangladesh
Hosenare Aktar is a participant in the Collective Responsibility, Action and Accountability for Improved Nutrition (CRAAIN) program in Bagerhat District, Bangladesh. The program, which aims to assist 500,000 people, works to improve participants’ nutrition through activities involving government, civil society, the private sector, and community groups.
As part of the program, Hosenare received training on nutrition, climate-smart agriculture techniques, water use, and sanitation and was provided with a goat and four ducks. Her participation helped her build up her small farm while enabling her family to withstand the negative consequences of climate shocks such as typhoons and flooding. “Before the CRAAIN project,” she says, “there was nothing here. Since receiving the training and different types of counseling, I have created my farm.”
Hosenare has been able to produce a surplus for sale. “For the last three months the vegetables I grew went to my family to eat, and I lent some to my neighbor. I also sold [produce worth] around 1,000 taka [€8.30], which I will keep and use for my child’s education.” She continues: “I feel empowered and have a dream of increasing my small farm. I received just 1 goat, and now I have 3. I dream of having 10 or more to help me earn more and preserve my farm.”
Hosenare also transfers her new knowledge to others in her community: “All of my neighbors have increased their interest in learning from me. I am counseling them on how to cultivate and how to do better.”