Dhaka: Once a poverty-stricken and disaster-hit area, Dakope in Khulna’s coastal belt is witnessing a quiet transformation through climate-resilient farming. Salinity, cyclones, tidal surges, and flood-damaged crops once made survival a daily struggle in villages like Chardanga, Tildanga, Kamarkhola, Moshamari, Botbunia, Joynagar, Hogalbunia, Moukhali, and Rekhamari. At present, these areas are turning green with thriving fields and fish ponds, bringing hope and livelihoods to local communities.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, at the center of this change are women farmers, who are not just adapting but leading the shift. Walking through Chardanga, fields of bottle gourd, okra, pumpkin, tomato, chili, and eggplant now surround sparkling fish enclosures – a stark contrast to the submerged, barren land of just a few years ago. Shanti Rani Mondal, a housewife-turned-farmer from Chardanga, said, “We used to struggle for food and clothes. My husband was a day laborer, and I stayed home doing nothing. Now I lease land, grow vegetables and fish, and earn an income. I feel proud to contribute.” She learned climate-resilient farming techniques through training provided by the local NGO Jagroto Jubo Sangho (JJS).
Over 4,000 women across Dakope and neighboring Koyra upazila are now self-reliant, leasing land, cultivating vegetables, and raising fish for local markets. Tildanga Union Parishad Chairman Jalaluddin Gazi mentioned the transformation brought by climate-resilient farming, leading to increased income and the return of local populations. Md Rafiqul Islam, Additional Director of the Khulna Agriculture Zone, highlighted efforts to diversify coastal livelihoods, providing farmers with saline-tolerant seeds and training.
Farmers in Dakope now cultivate saline-tolerant rice varieties alongside vegetables and fish in an integrated farming system, creating multiple income sources. Local markets are bustling every morning with women selling fresh produce, a scene unimaginable a decade ago. Women like Shanti Rani and Soma Lata take pride in sending their children to school with money earned from their work, contributing significantly to family stability.
According to the local agriculture office, vegetable and fish production in Dakope has increased by about 55 percent over the past five years due to climate-resilient practices. Experts emphasize the need for continued support, including durable embankments and improved market facilities. Md Monirul Islam, professor of Agrotechnology at Khulna University, stated that with government support, Dakope could become a national model of climate-resilient agriculture.
As the sun sets over Chardanga, Shanti Rani reflects on the resilience and hope that now characterizes the lives of those in Dakope. The story of Dakope reflects Bangladesh’s resilience and hope in the face of climate change.