Nearly half of Bangladesh’s workforce is employed in agriculture, with a large majority of rural households relying on farming for at least part of their income. Yet many farmers still depend on traditional methods that can leave crops vulnerable to disease, pests, and low yields.

Learning new methods for lasting change

Rupantor—a Bangla word meaning transformation—is also the name of an agriculture and food security project facilitated by World Renew’s partner, PARI, in northern Bangladesh.

Al Mamun, a farmer from a rural village, participates in this project. Before joining Rupantor, he followed the same farming practices passed down through generations. Like many in his community, he faced ongoing challenges: frequent crop disease, insect attacks, and harvests that were not enough to sustain his family.

Through the project, Al Mamun attended training sessions where he learned about high-yielding rice varieties that are more resistant to pests and disease. He also received training in the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), a method that improves rice production using careful planting techniques, soil management, and water use.

From preparing seedbeds and spacing seedlings properly, to managing irrigation, controlling disease, and storing crops, the training introduced practical, step-by-step approaches that could make a significant difference.

A harvest of hope

After completing the training, Al Mamun received a new rice variety enriched with zinc, protein, and iron. Applying what he had learned through SRI, he carefully cultivated his crop.

At harvest time, the results spoke clearly: Al Mamun produced 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, farmers like Al Mamun are building more secure futures for their families by adopting improved practices and resilient crops. With the right training and tools, these changes can help strengthen food security and create lasting impact in communities around the world.