How women-led integrated farming strengthens coastal livelihoods

Sanjoy Shil and his wife Radhika Shil, residents of Tildanga village under Dacope upazila, have set up an integrated farm on 30 decimals of low-lying land adjacent to their home. While Sanjoy assists occasionally, it is Radhika who manages the entire farm. 

Their farm combines fish cultivation, paddy production and vegetable farming, ensuring both nutritional security and financial sustainability. By selling fish and vegetables, they earn nearly Tk1,00,000 annually.

The farm is strategically divided into deep and shallow sections. During the monsoon, the entire area is used for fish farming. In the dry season, when the shallow part dries up, they cultivate paddy. 

This year, they have grown the 'Rod Miniket' variety of paddy. Fish remain in the deeper section throughout the year, while vegetables are cultivated around the farm in two growing seasons.

Their paddy production meets the yearly consumption needs of their four-member family. Additionally, they sell surplus vegetables and fish in the local market. In the last winter season alone, they sold vegetables worth over TK40,000, while during the monsoon, vegetable sales generated around TK30,000. Fish sales contributed another TK10,000 to their income. 

While Sanjoy works as a daily labourer in other people's fields, he assists in managing their farm whenever he is home.

"We started this farm two years ago with a TK30,000 loan from Bangladesh Krishi Bank. The loan has already been repaid," Radhika told The Business Standard. 

"Earlier, we used to cultivate only paddy, which was not profitable. Now, alongside my husband's earnings, this farm helps us afford our children's education and household expenses. This year, we leased an additional one bigha of land for watermelon and vegetable farming. We no longer struggle financially, and we can educate our children."

Initially, Radhika received TK13,000 in assistance from Concern Worldwide, a non-governmental organisation. However, she emphasised that the technical support was even more valuable than the financial aid. 

"Previously, this land generated only TK10,000–15,000 per year. Now, I earn at least four to five times more. They provide regular monitoring and training, which have helped us a lot," she added.

Coastal communities in Bangladesh face challenges such as cyclones, tidal surges, and soil salinity due to climate change. While shrimp farming was once dominant, many farmers are now shifting towards diversified farming systems, including fish, paddy, and vegetable cultivation. The popularity of integrated farming is growing, particularly among women in coastal regions.

In Dacope and Koyra, many men work as day labourers or fishermen in the Sundarbans, leaving household and farming responsibilities to women. So, integrated farming has become increasingly common among women, enabling them to contribute significantly to household incomes. 

Field visits to six coastal unions under Dacope and Koyra revealed that many families are now adopting this model. In some cases, farmers are even leasing additional land to expand their farms.

According to local agricultural officials, approximately 20-30% of farming families in these areas are now practising integrated farming. The Department of Agricultural Extension and various NGOs are providing training and model-based support to promote this sustainable practice.

Farmers now independently adopting the model

Initially, integrated farming was introduced with the assistance of NGOs and government programmes. However, many farmers are now independently adopting this model due to its profitability. 

Shilpi Sardar, another woman farmer in Tildanga, told TBS, "Seeing others, I also started integrated farming. Now I cultivate fish along with tomatoes, pumpkins, aubergines and long beans on the embankments of my farm."

Some farmers are leasing land to scale up their operations. 

Chandra Bishwas, a resident of Moshamari village, leased 1.5 bighas of land in 2022 for five years at TK50,000. She cultivates Aush paddy in the elevated areas of the farm and grows vegetables in other seasons. Initially, she took a TK50,000 loan to start, which she has almost repaid.

"My husband does not stay home. He works on other people's land and occasionally fishes in the Sundarbans," Chandrabishwas said. "I took a risk by leasing land and starting integrated farming. Now, we consume home-grown food and earn extra income by selling the surplus."

Md Nasif Ahsan, a professor at Khulna University's Economics Discipline and a researcher on coastal communities, highlighted the changing economic landscape. 

"Income diversification has increased in coastal areas. Our research indicates that fewer people are migrating now because they have adapted to climate change challenges," he told TBS.

He added, "Now, nearly every household in these areas is engaged in integrated farming, led by women. Since men often work as labourers or travel for work, women manage farms at home with technological support from the government and NGOs. Their economic status has significantly improved in the last few years."

The NGO Concern Worldwide is implementing a five-year project funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency to improve economic resilience in coastal communities. Launched in June 2021, the project provides financial and technical assistance for integrated farming and ensures access to safe drinking water. Nearly 6,000 families in six unions under Dacope and Koyra have been engaged in integrated farming under this initiative, implemented with the support of the local NGO JJS.

Coastal Climate Change Resilience Programme Manager at Concern Worldwide Moshiur Rahman said, "We have developed an integrated farming model and provide both financial and technical support. Women receive monthly training, and we have observed that they are now earning substantial incomes by utilising their household land. This, in turn, encourages others to adopt this method."