Bangladesh faces up to climate change
10 September 2008
Opportunities spring from water
Salam Sarder is a dynamic entrepreneur with a vision.
He has shown how it is possible to adapt to the relentless waterlogging that has
afflicted the land outside his village of Katakhali, in Kesobpur.
In recent years, the 39-year-old watched as his farmland became increasingly
sodden.
Cultivating paddy was proving impossible, and Salam knew that this could spell
disaster for his family's security.
During the last Monsoon he decided to take action.
Spending all his savings, he hired 25 people for 15 days to first irrigate the
land, then help build a series of escarpments and dykes. He soon had a number of
separate ponds - ideal for farming shrimps and white fish.
No detail was overlooked in
Salam's clever design - he even ensured that the steep
slopes of the escarpments were not wasted, turning them over
to vegetable farming.
"I have quite a large plot and, when the water first flooded it, I raised the dyke,
arranging it in such a way that I
could cultivate both fish and vegetables. I could also plant rice on it, if I wish.
"It cost all my savings (28,000 Taka - $430), but I manage this piece of land
because I need to survive.
"I've been a fisherman for just a year but I'm getting used to it," he smiles.
"This is a good solution for me."
Salam sells 90% of the fish and shrimps he farms. Caring for the fish and the
land is a family affair and his wife helps each morning.
The pride he takes in his land is tangible as he stands in the searing heat,
listening to the gentle sound of the fish jumping in and out of the water, his
eyes flashing with a determination to succeed.
Salam says that others should follow his example to make the most of the
waterlogged land, though it costs money to create order out of the chaos of the
flooded fields.
"Some are doing this but others couldn't do it because of a lack of money. We
have enough man-power, but we need money to do the job."
Salam believes that the Bangladeshi people are resilient and can cope, whatever
the circumstances. Foreign intervention and support from developed countries
would be welcome, but only if it reaches the people who actually need it.
He says: "We are courageous people. Nothing can stop us - we can eventually
overcome any crisis. We need extra effort but we are not afraid of anything.
We've heard that other countries are helping Bangladesh, but that help goes to
others and not to us.
"Whatever the help the developed countries offer, they should do it to help poor
people - we are sure we can improve ourselves."
Salam sits back in his wooden hut and surveys his ponds silently. He is
determined to make a success of this initiative – whatever the weather brings.
Links
- Bangladesh country profile
- How we fight poverty: Climate
- Degrees of separation: Poverty and climate change
