Homestead cultivation becomes a game changer for womenfolk

Once an ordinary rural community, Chandopara- a small village under Jahanabad union in Mohanpur upazila of Rajshahi - is now widely known as a "ginger village."

The reason? Almost every homestead in the village is now covered with rows of green ginger plants sprouting from sacks, carefully nurtured by the hands of women farmers.

This shift has not only transformed the landscape but also changed the lives of the women who once remained confined within their homes.

A recent visit to Chandopara reveals a vibrant scene: more than 50 families are cultivating ginger in sacks in their courtyards. Some are growing 200, others 300, and a few even 500 sacks of the spice crop each.

According to the local agriculture office, nearly 12,000 sacks of ginger have been cultivated in the village this season alone - a remarkable leap from the 1,000 sacks planted during the project's inception.

But ginger is not the only crop here. The women of Chandopara are also cultivating bay leaves, black pepper, and the traditional southern spice "chui jhal." In addition, most households have established nutrition gardens, vegetable trellises, onion seedbeds, and vermicompost units for organic fertiliser production. These activities have turned the once-silent courtyards into buzzing centers of agricultural enterprise.

The women have also formed a cooperative society to sustain their progress. Members deposit monthly savings, rent out agricultural equipment such as mini tillers, sprayers, and dryers, and offer small loans to one another at minimal interest.

All transactions are managed transparently through bank accounts, and regular monthly meetings are held to maintain accountability.

The women have received agricultural training under the guidance of Assistant Agriculture Officer Khadijatuz Zohora, who regularly visits the area to provide technical advice.

"Women in Chandopara are now self-reliant," she said. "They started with small support but have taken ownership of their success. Their enthusiasm and hard work are their biggest assets."

Sabina Begum, president of the Chandopara Partner Farmers' Service Center, shared her experience:

"We used to remain confined to household chores. Now, with guidance from the agriculture office, we've organised ourselves and started cultivating

ginger. It brings extra income and ensures nutritious food for our families. People now call our home the 'ginger village.' We hope to transform it into a full-fledged 'spice village' in the future."

For many women, this initiative has been life-changing. Marium Begum, a homemaker, said her husband's rickshaw-pulling income was not enough to support their five-member family. "We were drowning in debt," she recalled. "Two years ago, I began growing ginger around my house, and it paid off. Now I can repay my loans and manage family expenses comfortably."

Upazila Agriculture Officer Kamrul Islam praised the women's efforts: "At first, we provided support for only 1,000 sacks of ginger. But their determination expanded it to 12,000 sacks. Chandopara's success has become a model for women's empowerment across the upazila."

He added, "The collective effort of Chandopara's women marks a new chapter in rural development.

Those who once struggled to meet daily expenses are now renting out farm equipment, selling spices, and contributing to their families' incomes.

The 'ginger village' stands as a symbol of women's empowerment and sustainable agriculture in Rajshahi."

anaetru@gmail.com