In the remote village of Khutikata, Shyamnagar, Satkhira, the story of 52-year-old Sandhya Rani Sarkar unfolds as a testament to resilience and transformation. Once a destitute housewife, Sandhya’s days were consumed by the struggle to provide for her sick husband and children. Her husband, a day laborer, earned little, and Sandhya often had to rely on collecting cow dung from grazing fields to scrape together a meager existence. Without the ability to repay loans, even neighbors and relatives turned her away in times of need.
Sandhya’s family owned slightly more than 66 decimal of land, but it was mostly unproductive due to relentless waterlogging and drought—a cruel manifestation of climate changes. With life throwing one challenge after another, despair became her constant companion.
At her lowest point, LEDARS brought hope. Understanding the devastating effects of climate change on coastal communities, LEDARS initiated the excavation of mini ponds to address drought and excessive rainfall. Sandhya was fortunate to receive one of these ponds, a lifeline that would change her destiny. The raised soil from the pond edges became fertile ground for eggplants, and Sandhya used every bit of knowledge, training, and support provided by LEDARS to cultivate her first successful crop.
Her initial success was nothing short of life-changing. Selling her eggplants earned her BDT 70,000, which she reinvested into growing vegetables and producing vermin compost fertilizer. Before long, her small patch of land transformed into a thriving farm, producing nearly every vegetable grown in the area.
Sandhya didn’t stop there. She established a vermin compost production farm that not only boosted her income but also inspired others in her village and beyond to follow suit. Today, Sandhya Rani owns 182 decimal of land. Her farm provides employment for 5–6 people daily, and her annual income exceeds BDT 300,000. The thatched hut she once called home has been replaced by a sturdy brick house. Her granary overflows with paddy, her pond teems with fish, her cowshed is full, and her heart is brimming with joy.
Sandhya Rani has become a beacon of hope and a role model for her community. Recognized as a successful farmer at both governmental and non-governmental levels, her story has inspired almost all 208 families in Khutikata to engage in commercial vegetable farming and vermicompost production. Today, Khutikata is a hub of agricultural prosperity in Shyamnagar Upazila, producing over a crore BDT worth of crops and compost annually.
Reflecting on her journey, Sandhya Rani’s eyes fill with tears—not of sorrow, but of gratitude and triumph. She speaks passionately, “If it weren’t for the mini pond, my life would have remained unchanged. That small pond has been a blessing, not just for me but for this entire village.”
As the sun sets over Khutikata, the women finish their day’s work, their faces glowing with satisfaction and pride. Sandhya Rani’s story, much like the vibrant village around her, is a story of hope, resilience, and transformation. Thanks to a simple yet impactful intervention by LEDARS, Sandhya and her community now sleep under the cool shade of prosperity, dreaming of brighter tomorrows.
LEDARS (Local Environment Development and Agricultural Research Society) is a non-profit and non-political development organization. LEDARS has been working since 1996 in Bangladesh. Details…
