Rangpur:Once beset by seasonal famine and severe hardship, the Teesta river chars are experiencing an agricultural revival as early maize cultivation is transforming farmers' livelihoods and creating new income opportunities for women.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, government support programs, including the distribution of seeds and fertilizers, have enabled farmers to explore the agricultural potential of the newly emerged river islands. The Department of Agricultural Extension reports that at least 462 chars have emerged in the Teesta, Dharla, Saniajan, and Brahmaputra river systems, with farmers expected to cultivate Rabi crops on approximately 33,000 hectares of land.
Abu Bakkar Saiful Islam, additional director of the DAE's Rangpur region, noted the fertility of char lands, which allow farmers to produce sufficient crops to sustain their families year-round. Early maize cultivation is gaining traction across the Teesta chars, with both men and women actively participating in the fields, thus creating new economic activity.
Women in the Teesta chars, such as Parul Begum from South Parulia village, are earning incomes by engaging in agricultural work, which helps alleviate family financial pressures and contribute to children's educational expenses. This involvement is not only increasing household income but also helping them become economically self-reliant.
Harun Mia, Hatibandha upazila agriculture officer, emphasized that women's participation in agriculture is sowing dreams of financial independence and a better future, gradually transforming the economic realities of many char families.