theclimatewatch.com
Women farmers demand food sovereignty through local seeds in Rajshahi
A community seed bank in Paba now preserves 198 local varieties, as farmers seek union-level support for agroecology, seed exchange and safer farming. Women farmers in northwestern Bangladesh have called for stronger support for local seed production, community seed banks and agroecological farming practices to protect food sovereignty and build climate-resilient agriculture. The demands were raised on today, August 16, 2026, at a community advocacy meeting on agroecology, food sovereignty, drought and climate-resilient agriculture at the Bilnepalpara Agroecology Learning Center in Darshanpara Union of Paba Upazila in Rajshahi. The meeting was organised by grassroots women of the Green Coalition, with support from development research organisation BARCIK. Forty-five women and men farmers practising safe agriculture took part, sharing their experiences of producing safe food through local seeds, farmers’ own knowledge and locally available materials. They also displayed seeds of different local varieties of vegetables and crop plants. The advocacy meeting, moderated by farmer Sultana Begum, heard from Mahmuda Begum of Bildharmapur, who said: “Three years ago, I had seeds of only one variety of sweet pumpkin. Now, through seed exchange, I am preserving five varieties of sweet pumpkin and six varieties of bean seeds.” Sultana Begum, who runs the ALC, said:...
