Empowering Farmers in Bangladesh: Khalilur’s Story
PATUAKHALI DISTRICT, BANGLADESH – In many rural communities in Bangladesh, farmers face significant challenges in maximizing productivity and income, due to limited knowledge of climate-resilient agricultural techniques. Md. Khalilur Rahman’s story shows how the right support and training can unlock the potential of smallholder farmers.
From Rice to Vegetables
Khalilur, a 44-year-old farmer from Choto Dalima, Bauphal, focused on rice cultivation for many years. However, in the face of irregular weather patterns, his old farming techniques were failing to provide him with a stable livelihood. Vegetable cultivation, he thought, might offer new income opportunities.
In the middle of 2024, with guidance from the East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer (EWS-KT) team, Khalilur established two vegetable farming demonstration plots: one for bottle gourd and one for pumpkin. By attending the regular meetings and training sessions arranged by EWS-KT, he started learning new techniques.
A Successful Agripreneur: Vegetables, Seedlings & Seeds
Khalilur’s dedication and hard work yielded exceptional results, earning him net returns of 50,000 taka (US$412) for his bottle gourd demo plot and 55,000 taka (US$453) for pumpkin. Encouraged by this success, he expanded his vegetable cultivation area from 810 square meters to 2,830 square meters, indicating his growing confidence in sustainable farming techniques.
Khalilur also took another significant step by starting a seedling business. His nursery now produces high-quality seedlings of hot pepper, tomato, onion, cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi, and various cucurbits, earning him 40,000 taka (US$329) so far this season. Additionally, he has begun retailing high-quality seeds to his community and has plans to establish a full-fledged agro-input shop.
Leading a Community
As his confidence and expertise on climate-smart technologies grew, Khalilur was selected as a Community Farmer Facilitator in September 2024. This role has made him a respected figure in his community. More than 200 farmers from neighboring communities have visited his fields to learn about advanced vegetable farming techniques, and he maintains regular connections with around 50 local farmers, fostering rapid adoption of improved practices in the area.
Reflecting on his journey, Khalilur shared, “Working with the East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer team has not only enhanced my skills and income but has also strengthened my standing in the community. I believe farmers here will continue adopting these remarkable methods to improve their livelihoods.”
With Khalilur’s multifaceted support—equipping his fellow farmers with seeds, seedlings, and knowledge—more and more farmers in the area are viewing vegetable production as a sustainable and profitable livelihood.
