Women get vegetable seedlings at village in Dinajpur

Bashundhara Shuvosangho launched a vegetable tree plantation initiative to empower rural women and promote nutrition awareness at a village in Chirirbandar upazila of Dinajpur on Wednesday.

Under the initiative, the organisation distributed free vegetable seedlings of various varieties to 30 families in Fakirpara village under Abdulpur Union No. 5.

Seedlings of bottle gourd, pumpkin, sponge gourd, cucumber, okra, bitter gourd, eggplant, chilli and papaya, among other seasonal vegetables, were distributed.

Bashundhara Shuvosangho also encouraged the women to make use of vacant spaces around their homes to grow safe, pesticide-free vegetables, meet their families' nutritional needs and earn extra income by selling surplus produce.

Speaking as the chief guest, Fayez Hasan, deputy-assistant agriculture officer of Abdulpur Union No. 5, said, "By cultivating pesticide-free vegetables in home gardens, families can meet their nutritional needs while also earning additional income by selling surplus produce in the market. At a time when ensuring food security and nutrition is so important, initiatives like this are highly significant. Bashundhara Shuvosangho's timely and welfare-oriented programme deserves appreciation."

Shuvosangho Chirirbandar upazila unit President Md Mostakim Al-Hasnat said, "If our mothers and sisters make use of even a small piece of land around their homes for vegetable cultivation instead of leaving it unused, they will be able to meet their families' nutritional needs and significantly reduce household expenses. Selling surplus vegetables will also create an opportunity for additional family income. Bashundhara Shuvosangho has always worked for the welfare of the people and will continue such initiatives to help build a self-reliant society."

The recipients expressed their delight after receiving the seedlings. One homemaker said, "I have wanted to grow vegetables in my yard for a long time, but I couldn't collect good-quality seedlings. Today, I received them free of cost from Bashundhara Shuvosangho, which is a great help. Now I can produce safe vegetables for my family and sell the surplus to earn some extra income."