As dawn breaks, the hustle and bustle begins. In the fields beside her house, bean plants climb in rows across scaffolds, while cucumbers, snake gourds, and gourds hang from the vines. As far as the eye can see, there is a expanse of green. Amidst this greenery, female agricultural entrepreneur Selina Akhter from Kandi Union in Pirganj Upazila, Rangpur, is weaving her dreams. By cultivating various types of vegetables on one acre of homestead land, she has now become self-reliant. Vegetables worth Tk 40,000 to Tk 50,000 are being sold from her field every month.
For Selina Akhter of Kabiapara village in Kandi Union, agriculture is not merely a means of livelihood, but a firm determination to stand on her own feet. She is systematically cultivating various vegetables on the land adjacent to her house. Alongside managing household chores, she regularly devotes time to caring for the fields. Since the land is close to home, she can easily tend to the plants, provide irrigation, and monitor the condition of the crops.
Visiting Selina's field reveals a diverse collection of vegetables. Alongside bean scaffolds, there are cucumbers and gourds. Considering the season and market demand, she produces these vegetables. A portion of the harvested vegetables is sold in the local market, while the rest are supplied to wholesale commission agents (arats). This creates a steady income as well as opportunities to further advance her initiative.
Selina Akhter said, "I have cultivated various types of vegetables on my own land. First, I meet the demand of the local market, and the remaining vegetables are sold at the arat. This provides a regular income."
Beyond achieving personal self-reliance, Selina has also created employment opportunities for others. On average, four to six male and female workers work in her field every day, assisting with land preparation, crop care, harvesting, and marketing, thereby linking several families' livelihoods to her agricultural venture.
Read next Garment Workers Block Highway in Kaliakair, Gazipur Demanding a Minimum Monthly Wage of Tk 30,000However, this journey has not been entirely smooth. Despite not receiving expected advice and cooperation from the agriculture department, she did not step back, moving forward by capitalizing on her own experience, hard work, and planning. From crop maintenance to calculating vegetable sales in the market, she handles everything through her own initiative.
This year, after deducting production costs, Selina expects an income of Tk 3 to 3.5 lakh. If the weather remains favorable, production is good, and fair prices are fetched in the market, this expectation can be fulfilled. However, income in agriculture depends on various factors such as production, disease management, labor wages, transportation costs, and market prices.
Economic self-reliance for women in rural society remains a significant matter. Many women manage family chores but lack the opportunity to earn through their own initiatives. In that reality, Selina Akhter's journey is opening new doors of potential. By utilizing her own land, she has not only created a path for income but also played a role in increasing the supply of vegetables in the local market.
Regarding this, Upazila Agriculture Officer Nilufa Yasmin said that necessary advice is being provided to farmers at the field level, and no significant diseases were observed in vegetable cultivation this year.
According to agricultural stakeholders, regular field-level advice, high-quality seeds, balanced fertilizer management, disease control, and marketing assistance are crucial to advancing small and medium agricultural entrepreneurs. Furthermore, ensuring fair prices for produced goods can further increase women's participation in agriculture.
Selina Akhter's green field is therefore not just a story of vegetable production; it is a story of hard work, self-confidence, and becoming self-reliant. Centered around her one acre of land, her dream is now a source of income as well as employment for others. Locals expect that with proper cooperation and market facilities, female agricultural entrepreneurs like her can make an even greater contribution to the rural economy.
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by Rangpur Bureau • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
