The Modhupur sal forest, the third largest forest patch in Bangladesh and home to matrilineal Garo indigenous community, has been thoroughly degraded. In its effort to create models for the protection of forests and sustainable agriculture, SEHD has been providing training in organic farming practices for the Garo women in Modhupur, teaching them how to organically cultivate medicinal plants and raise organic vegetable gardens and how to make a sustainable living from organic crops. It is also establishing a learning centre to educate everyone in the region about organic practices, indigenous culture, and the value of the natural forest.

The Garo women organized by SEHD under the umbrella of Simsaga (stay alert) are the managers of all project activities. The mother garden and nursery that SEHD has organized in Rajghati Village will be further strengthened and expanded so that it is able to supply enough seeds/seedlings and plants to all who want them.

Depending on the support, the maximum number of households possible will be provided with seeds, seedlings and cows (used for dung) to set up their organic garden of vegetables, medicinal plants and fruit trees. These households will play the role of catalysts in organic and sustainable agriculture and income generation through home gardening and by raising cows. They will be trained in savings in order to form a cooperative and help others in their villages. The operation will develop a model of sustainable agriculture and organic farming.

SEHD has already trained a group of villagers, especially women, in organic farming skills in order to develop nursery of saplings, to make naturally rich compost (pit compost, quick compost, green manure, vermi compost, and liquid manure), to set up a bio-gas plant, etc. The participants have also been introduced to different types of medicinal plants of commercial value that SEHD has been raising at its garden. With additional support, the training will be provided to women of as many forest villages as possible.

Women directly involved in organic farming will demonstrate their work to others and eventually become trainers for others in other in forest villages. They will also periodically organize exchange visits, meetings, and cultural programs to make organic farming popular in the area.

A community learning/knowledge centre, which will keep the participants of the project connected and anchored, will be formalized. A library will be set up within the centre for use of everyone in the locality. The knowledge developed by participating households will be documented in participatory method and made available for everyone else. The community centre will function as a meeting place for the villagers.

Impact of the project: The majority of the project beneficiaries are women who belong to the matriarchal Garo society. This has a particular significance. In Bangladeshi, women’s contribution in general is not recognized. Contrarily, in the Garo society, women have a strong voice, they are visible, and a role model to the rest of the country. They are the ones who can make a big difference in Modhupur. Their engagement in organic farming will improve the soil quality; make use of compost popular; make people aware of the adverse effects of excessive use of chemical pesticides, fertilizers and hormones; contribute in reducing the use of chemical fertilizers; make people aware of the significance of the natural forest patches and local species; and engage people in collecting polythene and plastic containers and dispose of them safely (a small action that will provoke larger thoughts).

Presided by SEHD chairman Professor Sakhawat Ali Khan, designated speakers who spoke at the discussion on the book and issues covered in it were Khushi Kabir, Prof. Amena Mohsin, cairman of the Minimum Wages Board,Ikteder Ahmed, member of Bangladesh Tea Association (BTA, organization of the tea estate owners) M Shah Alam, Adivasi leader Gidison Pradhan Suchiang, labor leaders Tapan Datta and Rambhajan Koiri.

Representatives from government and non-government organizations, tea workers, researchers, students, and journalists attended the launch.

The book, Story of the Tea Workers (Cha Sramiker Katha), is about the indentured tea plantation workers, one of the most marginalized and excluded communities of Bangladesh. The issues covered in this book include the history of the tea industry, the ownership of tea estates, socio-economic status of tea workers, their struggle for rights, their health and education status and laws relating to tea industry among others. In addition to information and analysis that is the result of years of investigation by SEHD staff, the book contains insightful write-ups tea industry by labor leaders, lawyers, physicians and government officials.