Turning wasteland into goldmine

Once a swamp, it is now an innovative fish enclosure and vegetable farm run by thirty enterprising locals, including ten women, of Jhalakathi sadar upazila. With financial and technical assistance from a leading NGO, the members of the group initiated the process of turning unsightly and unused waterlogged non-agricultural land into productive farmland, creating floating beds for vegetable farming and an enclosure for fish production. Within a short time, their project has become a tremendous success, setting an example for others in nearby villages. The group estimates that the first fish harvest can earn them as much as eight to ten lakh takas. The project has given the members a much-needed source of income and a sense of purpose, but on a broader scale, it has shown how, with innovative ideas and entrepreneurial skills, we can make the best of our scarce resources.

We applaud this initiative which has empowered the local people to look at their surroundings in a new light and take steps to turn a wasteland into a goldmine. The project cost Tk. 4 lakh, with the members themselves contributing Tk. 5000 each in addition to external funding, but the returns of it -- both in terms of monetary gain for the members and the positive environmental impact – far exceeds the initial investment. It highlights that investing in and fostering community-run enterprises can play a crucial role in poverty alleviation and women's empowerment, and in giving the local community greater access to underutilized resources and better control over own lives. We must encourage such initiatives across the country.