RCE Greater Dhaka - 2020

Location

Bangladesh
See map: Google Maps
BD
Rural Home Centered Aggregated Farming is a Social Farming Model for Food and Nutrient Security, Recycling, Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem-based Adaptation
CSV
Basic Information
Title of project : 
Rural Home Centered Aggregated Farming is a Social Farming Model for Food and Nutrient Security, Recycling, Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem-based Adaptation
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Greater Dhaka
Contributing organization(s) : 
1. International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT),
2. Centre for Global Environmental Culture (CGEC),
3. IUBAT Institute of SDG Studies (IISS),
4. Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) Bangladesh
5. INSAF Agro, Boalmari, Faridpur;
6. Sonali Agro, Feni
7. Masum Agriculture Village of Pirojpur
8. FEPPCAR
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Professor Selina Nargis
Organizational Affiliation: 
International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT)
E-mail: 
selina@iubat.edu
Name: 
Prof Mohammed Ataur Rahman
Organizational Affiliation: 
Centre for Global Environmental Culture (CGEC)
E-mail: 
marahman@iubat.edu
Name: 
Prof Mohammed Ataur Rahman
Organizational Affiliation: 
WWOOF Bangladesh
E-mail: 
marahman@wwoofbangladesh.org
Name: 
Dr Mohammad Rehan Dastagir
Organizational Affiliation: 
IUBAT Institute of SDG Studies (IISS)
E-mail: 
rdastagir@iubat.edu
Name: 
Mr. Sowmen Rahman
Organizational Affiliation: 
Forestry Environment Olantation Crops Permaculture, Consultancy and Research (FEPPCAR)
E-mail: 
sowmenurp@gmail.com
Name: 
Mr. Md Matinur Rahman
Organizational Affiliation: 
INSAF Agro, Boalmari Faridpur
E-mail: 
mdmatinurrahman@gmail.com
Name: 
Mr. Md Anamul Kabir
Organizational Affiliation: 
Masum Agriculture Village, Pirojpur
E-mail: 
anamuldu@gmail.com
Name: 
Mr Sarwar Jahan Sumon
Organizational Affiliation: 
Sonali Agro and Fish, Feni
E-mail: 
sumonwwoof@gmail.com
Format of project: 
Manuscript
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Update
Web link: 
www.rcegreaterdahaka.org
Additional resources: 
www.wwoofbangladesh.org
https://iubat.edu/institute-of-sdg-studies/
www.wwoof.net
Revitalist: European Union Guide: Social Farm Mentor Training Model: https://www.revitalist.eu/uploads/1/1/4/3/114388427/trainers_guide.pdf
www.feppcar.org
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
Yes
Sustainable agriculture and food and nutrient secuirity
At what level is the policy operating?: 
National
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Asia-Pacific
Country: 
Bangladesh
Location(s): 
Dhaka, Mymensingh, Faridpur, Pirojpor and Feni
Address of focal point institution for project: 
4 Embankment Drive Road, Uttara Model Town
Dhaka 1230
Ecosystem(s):
Agricultural, Coastal, Forest, Fresh water
Rural
Target Audience:
Community, Higher, TVET, Youth (Informal)
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
The socioeconomic condition is very unequal, a huge gap between rich and poor, urban and rural. Religiously ignorant and conservative and many are deprived of education. High chemical (fertilizers and pesticides) inputs-based conventional agriculture has damaged environmental characteristics and are highly polluted, ecosystems are mostly nonfunctional; the soil, rivers, and wetlands are deadly polluted. Urbanization and industrialization are expanding rapidly but destroying the ecosystems. Moreover, a huge labor crisis is hampering agriculture as the workers are migrated to the industrial cities for better opportunities.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
The most significant environmental challenges are the destruction of ecosystems: rivers, lakes, forests, croplands, homes, and landscapes; illiteracy, pollution, river and canal encroachment, unplanned and quick urbanization, indiscriminate use of pesticides and fertilizers, food adulteration, corruption, and bribery, poor human health. Skilled labor crisis in the agricultural sector. People are not aware of sustainable agriculture and food and nutrient security
Contents
Status: 
Ongoing
Period: 
January, 2018 to December, 2025
Rationale: 
The densely populated Bengal Basin is an alluvial plain with fertile land. Traditionally its rural homes are the centres for all agricultural activities. Homes have raised-floor with houses, forest groves, and a pond. Hundreds of plants and animals are grown and nurtured there. This home ecosystem with huge biodiversity is rare and unique in the world. Rice dominated agriculture with many diversified crops is processed in the homes; biomass is recycled to the field. Moreover, the inhabitants are conscious about hygiene, natural resource conservation, and they used to practice simple farming methods in their homesteads which are important and scientifically rich even during this advanced technological era.
However, with the technological advancement, loss of huge biodiversity and degradation of soil health have occurred due to mono-cropping with HYVs, GMOs; fertilizer, and pesticide-dependent hybrid culture. Moreover, here, a great transition is going on in the agricultural sector especially to feed about 180 million. On the other hand, a huge labor crisis in the rural areas as a great portion of the workforce migrated to the cities for better opportunities mostly in the garments industries and migrated to overseas countries. In this transition period mechanization has been started which needs skilled workers.
Objectives: 
1. To conserve the rural home-centered aggregated farming (RHCAF) and to develop a more sustainable model
2. To train up youths and jobless men and women for capacity building to develop a skilled workforce with knowledge on sustainability, healthy and functional ecosystem, and biodiversity conservation.
3. To evaluate the existing RHCAF models those are saving biodiversity and ecosystem ensuring nutrient management through biomass recycling and improving soil health
4. To investigate the science behind traditional practices and wisdom
5. RHCAF model will be reviewed and more productive and sustainable crops, animals will be introduced, according to the needs of the community
Activities and/or practices employed: 
RCE Greater Dhaka partners have taken an immediate plan to save the traditional home ecosystem of the Bengal Basin with the aim to develop the rural home-centered aggregated farming to a more sustainable model with valuable homestead crops viz. spices, coffee, taro and also bee and mushroom culture along with traditional multiple farming with cows, goats, sheep, chicken, pigeon and ducks etc. to ensure a healthy ecosystem with biodiversity and nutrient management.
Inspired by WWOOF Hungary, WWOOF Bangladesh, and its host organizations, started to implement Practical Skills Therapeutic Education (PSTE) of the Social Farming model of the European Union, the Revitalist, established three centres for training for the youths and jobless workers in the following aggregated farming organizations:
1. INSAF Agro, Boalmari, Faridpur
2. Masum Agriculture Village, Pirojpur
3. Sonali Agro and Feed, Feni
They are implementing the Revitalist: European Union Guide: Social Farm Mentor Training and producing skilled workforce for immediate needs
Size of academic audience: 
2,200
Results: 
It is an ongoing project. During the Covid 19 pandemic situation, work has continued maintaining hygienic protection and social distance. The training is found very effective and more organizations have shown their interest to participate in this program. A total of 2,200 youths and jobless workers are being trained so far in these three centers. But in the unprecedented flood-affected areas some works were hampered. However, the training program will be extended in other WWOOF host organizations throughout the country.
Lessons learned: 
It is a great success to revitalize RHCAF to have functional and healthy ecosystems. It reduces rural-urban migration creating better opportunities in rural homes. By introducing mechanization, getting more output, and more profit. Social bindings created, biodiversity conserved, and soil health improved; thus the overall environment becomes eco-friendly and livable. This will be a role model for many countries including Bangladesh.
Key messages: 
Home-Centered Aggregating Farming is a key to restore ecosystems following ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) ensures biodiversity conservation, food and nutrient security, short-cycled biomass and nutrient recycling. This model increases the social bondings, promotes gender equality and reduces the difference between rich and poor thus rural-urban migration will definitely reduce.
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
This project has been progressing with the all-out cooperation and coordination of RCE Greater Dhaka Partners.IUBAT Institute of SDG Studies (IISS) has extended the work with the Governments SDG Office of Prime Minister and also communicating Bangladesh Climate Change Trust and General Economics Division (GED) of the Planning Commission of Bangladesh. This is a very important project as the coming 2021 to 2030 has been declared as a Decade of Ecosystem Restoration. We are also contacting UNESCO and other Regional RCEs and WWOOF organizations to promote and spread the model nationally and regionally.
Funding: 
I would like to acknowledge the International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT) and WWOOF Bangladesh for funding the project. Sincere thanks to INSAF Agro, Masum Agriculture Village, and Sonali Agro and Fish for supporting the training programs with logistics. I would also like to acknowledge the Federation of WWOOF Organizations (FoWO) and WWOOF Hungary for providing Revitalist Social Farming PSTE Training Module of the European Union.

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon Harvested Vegetables carrying to home at INSAF Agro.jpg (1.73 MB) Carrying harvested vegetables to home at INSAF Agro M.M. Rahman
Field demonstration in Masum Agriculture Village A. Kabir
References and reference materials: 
File Rural Home Centered Aggregated Farming (RHCAF).DOCX
File Model Rural Homes.DOCX
PDF icon STUDY_ON_THE_TRADITIONAL_PRACTICES_FOR_SOLID_WASTE.pdf
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere 
Direct
SDG 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture 
Direct
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Direct
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Direct
SDG 5 - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 
Direct
SDG 6 - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 
Direct
SDG 7 - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all 
Direct
SDG 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all 
Direct
SDG 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation 
Indirect
SDG 10 - Reduce inequality within and among countries 
Direct
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
Direct
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
Direct
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 
Direct
SDG 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 
Indirect
SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 
Direct
SDG 16 - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 
Indirect
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development 
Direct
Theme
Disaster Risk Reduction 
Direct
Traditional Knowledge  
Direct
Agriculture 
Direct
Arts 
Direct
Curriculum Development 
Direct
Ecotourism 
Direct
Forests/Trees 
Direct
Plants & Animals 
Direct
Waste 
Direct
ESD for 2030-Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 3 - Developing capacities of educators and trainers 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 4 - Mobilizing youth 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
state: 
Direct
Update: 
Yes