Food security in the coastal regions of Bangladesh is now a critical issue. The recent cyclone that hit the region has resulted in severe flooding and the destruction of communities and their crops.
Saline water has risen over the farms of already impoverished smallholders, and crop yields are dangerously low. You can nominate food security to be at the top of next years’ G20 agenda and join the church as they advocate for food security and fight back against the threat of an uncertain and changing climate.
In Bangladesh, the church is already making a difference and taking ground-breaking steps to ensure that smallholder farmers have access to the technologies and education they need to ensure food security.
Community workshops take place to raise awareness on the impact of changing climatic conditions, and how they can best adapt and apply different agricultural techniques to ensure the security of their food supply.
Advocacy and networking is also facilitated to support national and international food advocacy and ensure smallholder farmers have their voices heard.
Locals from almost 5000 small farms in the areas most prone to flooding have now been educated through training and workshops on the climate crisis and how they can survive it.
New technologies such as floating gardens (pictured above), hanging gardens, saline-tolerant crops and small pond cultures have been introduced with excellent results.
Women farmers have adopted the new technologies and are seeing results which have reversed the trend in food insecurity – increased production and increased income are some of the most remarkable outcomes for women who are now able to sell the surplus of their supply as well as sustain their families.
Madhuri Biswas (pictured) lives in Kandi, Gopalganj. She was trained in running a floating garden. Now her and her family have built six garden beds and sees a yield of vegetables for eight months of the year.
Madhuri said, “I feel now confident to meet the changing situation – at last I can ensure food for the family.” Like her, many poor families have successfully adopted the new technologies which are supporting them as they adapt to the changing climate.
The Church’s resilience programme also promotes food security through its Social Development Ministry. The care for humankind and for nature is rooted in a Christian’s witness against injustice, and fulfills God’s desire for creation to flourish.
“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”(Genesis 8:22)