Kitchen Gardens Produce During Pandemic
Moni, one of the program’s model farmers committed to organic principles, says kitchen gardening and poultry rearing are making it possible for her and others cope with the many challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing, lockdowns, and closed markets have severely damaged communications and livelihoods, but there’s hope at home.
Moni trains other farmers on organic kitchen-gardening practices such as composting with worms, and making their own natural pesticides. She demonstrates to her fellow farmers that organically-grown vegetables are good for their own nutrition and health, and the techniques also improve soil fertility and result in better yields and quality of produce. She raises poultry and motivates others to do so by her example, and is also able to offer basic veterinary services. She emphasizes the importance of handwashing, washing vegetables before cooking, and eating more of these and less rice.
She is motivating her fellow farmers and neighbors to double down on the kitchen gardening and poultry raising they’ve learned from her and local partner SATHI. By basing their diets on their own homegrown vegetables and poultry, they can feed their families and even assist people in need.
Moni says all these practices, put in place in the past, have helped her and her family face the upheaval of the pandemic. Therefore, she continues to share her knowledge and encouragement with local families.
Bangladesh Kendua Program
Led by World Renew and Local Partner SATHI