justify the importance of information dissemination as a precondition for
creating awareness, attitudinal, and behaviour change for adoption of
innovations or technologies by the audiences in the research sites.
Community radio is a huge asset in popular message design to fight poverty.
8. Agricultural Development is the Key to Employment Generation
Shohag Molla, Executive Director, BDKS, Khulna
By virtue of globalisation rich countries are getting richers. On the other
hand, poverty and hunger situation is also increasing in the poor and
developing countries. But this is to mention that people at this time are more
aware of their rights. They now know how to increase production. About
80% people are living in rural areas. Economic development of Bangladesh
can be advanced through agricultural development, infrastructure
development, employment generation and enhancing production and
savings. This research puts emphasis on two points: agricultural
development and creating professional leadership. In agricultural
development, vermin-compost farming and oil palm cultivation are
emphasised. Vermin compost in soil can reduce using chemical fertiliser. Its
usefulnesses are many. It does not create any change in soils that is why the
taste, scent and colour of crops remain natural. On the other hand, oil palm
cultivation can be a permanent solution to the agricultural development. It
can effectively reduce the effects of climate change and pave the way of
economic development. For its saline tolering nature, oil palm can be
planted everywhere in the country. It also highlights that professional
leadership development is not getting that much importance. There are
lacks of proper projects and planning. Professional development training can
be a solution to this. It will definitely increase the value of labour and by dint
of it, labour will turn into power. By developing entrepreneurs and
leadership training actual professional leadership can be developed.
9. Farmer’s Association in Rice and Wheat Seed Production in
Char Areas
SM Kuddus Mollah, Amra Kaj Kory (AKK), Faridpur
In 2009, a farmers’ association in Faridpur living in char areas took steps to
identify their problems and solutions. They identified lack of irrigation and
quality seeds as the main problems. They also decided to collect quality
seeds. At the beginning of their initiative, they collected and preserved seeds
at household level. At one stage, the participants decided to establish a
community-based seed bank. With assistance of the members of farmer
association during 2010-2012, AKK took several initiatives to ensure quality
Poverty and Development: Realities of Grassroots 45