Nearly half of all of Bangladesh’s workers are directly employed in the agricultural sector, with two-thirds of the rural population directly employed and an estimated 87 percent of rural households relying on agriculture for at least part of their income. Most of the farmers use traditional farming methods.

Rupantor is a Bangla word meaning transformation; it is also the name of an agriculture and food security project facilitated by World Renew’s partner, PARI in Northern Bangladesh. Al Mamun lives in a rural village and is a participant in the Rupantor project. Before his involvement with Rupantor, Al Mamun practiced the traditional agriculture methods that he learned from his father and grandfather. And, like other farmers in his community who implemented these methods, he struggled with diseased crops, insect attacks, and low yields. Al Mamun just could not produce enough to support his family.

Through the Rupantor project, Al Mamun had the opportunity to attend training sessions and learned about different high-yielding rice varieties which are less prone to diseases and insect attack. He also learned about SRI (System of Rice Intensification) which is a modern technique for rice cultivation. In the SRI training, he learned how to use fertilizer, prepare a seed bed, and then transplant seedlings maintaining proper distances; he also learned about irrigation and drainage, parching, disease control, and storage process.

After the training, Al Mamun received a new variety of rice which is rich in zinc, protein, and iron. He cultivated this rice and followed every step of the SRI method. When it was time to harvest, Al Mamun harvested 520 kilograms of rice, more than any of his neighbours.

Al Mamun says, “I do not worry about food anymore, because now I harvest more rice than before. If all the farmers cultivate high-yielding varieties and practice the SRI method, then there will be less shortage of food for families.” Today, you can help more farmers like Al Mamun work towards ending world hunger.

November 5th is World Hunger Sunday and your gifts will help World Renew equip farmers with the training and tools they need to increase yields and change the story of hunger for the long term. Access resources for you or your church to use. Thank you for walking alongside World Renew to help transform lives like Al Mamun’s.