Netrakona Correspondent
Youth will ensure climate justice and food sovereignty through the practice of agroecology. The youth of the future will drive the sustainable development of agriculture. Practicing organic farming and folk wisdom, cultivating diverse crops, and producing safe food will protect the soil, water, and air. A workshop titled “Agriculture, Climate Justice and Food Sovereignty” was organized on Tuesday afternoon at the house of farmer Abul Kalam at the Moujebali Agroecology Learning Center in Moujebali village of Kailati Union in Sadar Upazila of Netrokona district with representatives from 15 youth organizations. The workshop was inaugurated by farmer Abul Kalam, supervisor of the Moujebali Agro-Environmental Science Learning Center. Present were environmental activist, writer and researcher Sohrab Uddin Akand, cultural activist and Netrokona District Green Solidarity Committee member, youth organizer Jewel Rana, farmer Tara Mia, BARSIC regional coordinator Md. Ahidur Rahman, village farmers, and representatives of youth and youth organizations from 19 villages. First, the workshop’s objectives were outlined by the supervisor of the Moujebali Agro-Environmental Science Learning Center, Farmer Abul Kalam, who gave a welcome speech. The training was conducted by environmental activist and writer Sohrab Uddin Akand, Md. Ahidur Ramhan, and Jewel Rana. The discussion covered agriculture, farmers, safe agriculture, environment, agri-environment, safe agriculture, family farming, organic farming, hazards of organic farming, cultural importance of agriculture, climate, climate change, climate justice, weather, food, safe food, food sovereignty, natural agriculture, disasters and agriculture, and environmental disasters. Sweety Akhtar, a member of Aurangabad Kishori Sangathan, said, “The farmer does not have the agriculture of the farmer, agricultural inputs, seeds, fertilizers are all under the control of the company and by using external technology, we are polluting the soil, water, and air. We will have to wage a long struggle for safe agriculture and sustainable agriculture.” At the end of the discussion, the youth held hand-written posters and banners and made a nature bond, and farmer Abul Kalam, the supervisor of the Moujebali Agro-Environmental Learning Center, presented each participant with a neem and betel nut tree sapling. He treats the participants with fruits and vegetables grown in his own home, cow’s milk, and bananas.