Transcript Dr. Shaikh Tanveer Hossain presentation at the Sydney National

The adoption of Landcare approaches for
sustainable livelihoods in Bangladesh
Shaikh Tanveer Hossain1 & Kamal Melvani2
1
Friends In Village Development Bangladesh (FIVDB), Bangladesh
2
Neo Synthesis Research Center (NSRC), Sri Lanka
Introduction
• Bangladesh is an agro-based country of South Asia.
• Though having success in crop production the country has ignored
important aspects like environment and community participation.
• Agriculture is heavily dependent on chemicals causing poor soil
fertility, human and animal health hazards, disturbed ecosystem
health, low productivity, and the pollution of soil, water and air.
Introduction
• Food security is also challenged by climate change, land
degradation and natural disasters.
• Adapting to, and mitigating, the effects of climate change is
a key to future sustainable development.
• ‘Home garden’ cultivation is vital to the day to day food
security of rural households. But such practices are not yet
based on an integrated and holistic approach.
• Farmers cannot increase profit margins due to their lack of
knowledge and understanding about how to cultivate their
land more effectively in a planned and sustainable way.
• Agriculture in Asia is characterized by small holders of
farmland having average size of less than 2 hectares (80%
of total farms). The agricultural production of these small
farms is presently feeding one-third of total world
population.
• Asian smallholders are facing several challenges arising
from a range of economic, demographic, structural,
technological and institutional factors including
industrialization and urbanization.
• Shrinking size of farms, rural-urban migration,
environmental degradation, evolution and adoption of
genetically modified crops, climate change and its impact
may emerge as a future threat for Asian countries.
Service delivery process on Community Learning Center (CLC)
of FIVDB
Integrated Rice-Duck Farming System
<>
Organic sack garden ensuring nutrition to improve the
food security on small scale households
Homestead vegetable production
Vermi ?-compost
Kitchen compost
Pheromone trap
Bio pesticide
Zero energy cool chamber
Organic farmer’s group
Visit to NSRC, Sri Lanka
December 2011
In Sri Lanka
Training program
Staff training program by Ms. Kamy Melvani
Baseline & planning map
Baseline and planning map
Management Plan
Basket compost
Pile compost
Bio-pesticide preparation
Liquid Fertilizer
Issues & opportunities for Landcare in
Bangladesh
• Diversified land type and ecosystem
• Watershed nature
• Land degradation & sedimentation
• Dynamic livelihood
• Vulnerable to climate change and food security
• Environment and natural disaster
• Biodiversity
Landcare starts in Bangladesh
Currently initiated in 22 areas (in each area 5 households
are established as the model) in Sylhet division (NorthEast Bangladesh)
Achievement and Progress……………..
1. Understanding with NSRC and Landcare Lanka
2. One of the member country of the Secretariat for International
Landcare (SILC)
3. Representative for Bangladesh
4. Participation in teleconference and networks with the Secretariat for
International Landcare (SILC)
5. Attending Australian National Landcare Conference
Recommendation
• Include the Landcare issues in the Government agricultural extension
policy and curriculum in the agricultural related institutes and
universities.
• Establish “Landcare - Bangladesh ”
• Capacity building – training, master class, workshop etc. & awareness
raising program – print & electronic media, meeting etc.
• Active participation in the emerging South Asian Landcare Network.
• Collaboration and support from SILC & other Landcare agencies
Let us work for
livelihoods improvement &
environmental sustainability