Bangladesh Extension Education Services (BEES) is a registered national NGO with over 48 years of experience. Since 1975, BEES has been working on the socio-economic and livelihood development of marginalized and less privileged communities. the journey of BEES began with the Bogura Rural Development Project (BRDP) project under Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC), and later evolved into a separate functional NGO, with a strong commitment to support the development of Bangladesh. BEES provides a range of services in the disciplines of Microfinance, Agriculture, Health, Education, and social safety net integrating environment and climate change as a cross-cutting issue within the programs. Our services include agricultural development, Agri-research, healthcare, nutrition, personal hygiene, sanitation education, and the empowerment of women through skill development and enterprise loans. These initiatives laid the foundation for BEES’ transformative journey. Over the years, BEES has expanded its services and working areas, holding various certifications and partnerships locally and globally. BEES is the only member organization of “USAID Climate Finance for Development Accelerator (CFDA)” from Bangladesh which indicates that BEES shoulders a great responsibility as well as commitment to bring change in the domains of climate change treat mitigation and adaptation.
Over the years, BEES has been involved with the implementation of several environmental & climate change issues in its operating areas. BEES supported its clients in planting trees & its management, provided technical support in establishing seasonal organic homestead gardening, demonstration plot, biogas plant and preparing vermicompost & marketing. These all activities are directly contributing in reducing the vulnerability of climate change.
Biogas is a clean energy as well as it’s renewable. Reducing greenhouse gas emission, it contributes to mitigating climate change. In our country, major raw material of biogas plants is cow dung. The beneficiaries use the biogas for cooking purpose only. Those beneficiaries who have not biogas plant they directly use the cow dung as fuel for cooking, which increases the carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) in air, which has a severe negative impact of climate change. Biogas reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) which are critically important greenhouse gases.
The beneficiaries are using the residues of biogas plant in their crop fields. These residues i.e. decomposed cow dung is environment-friendly organic manure. By using this organic manure, the concerned people reduced the production cost. They used fewer amount of chemical fertilizer in their crop fields.
Concern person of BEES assisted the beneficiaries to maintain 4 biogas plants during the reporting period. Among four, one in Polashbari upazila and three in Sreerampur upazila of Bogura district. The potential neighbors were interested to install the biogas plant in their place. During the reporting year, three neighbors have already installed their plants taking the technical assistance from the experts. They are also happy being owners of bio gas plant.
Since the year 2012 BEES has been assisting the contract producers for producing vermicompost. It helps in improving soil structure, texture, porosity, water holding capacity, drainage & aeration and reducing erosion. It improves plant growth which keeps the impact on higher productivity. It has direct impact on reducing the vulnerability of climate change.
During 2021-2022, there were 25 farms of BEES, from where around 175 MT vermicompost was produced and it was sold all over the country as the clients’ demand. The major raw materials of vermicompost are cow dung and specific worm.
Climate change is the most vital concern in agriculture and food security. Due to unpredictable weather for climate change, it’s very difficult to get expected yield from agriculture throughout the world. Bangladesh is not the exception from it. So, BEES is always concerned to operate the agricultural activities considering the current climatic condition.
BEES always encourages its beneficiaries as well as other community people to do the organic homestead gardening.
Beneficiaries use mostly vermicompost & other organic manure, apply integrated pest management system including using organic pesticide in their homestead gardens. Concern BEES staff assist the clients for selecting the climate resilient crop species for their gardens. During the reporting year, a total of 20 organic homestead gardens were established in 20 different places. Cauliflower, potato, teasle gourd, country bean, sweet gourd were the major vegetables which were grown in beneficiaries’ gardens.
Two demonstration plots were established applying organic manure and organic pesticide only, no chemicals were used in those gardens. They use the sex pheromone trap to control the pests. In one demo plot of 30 decimal land, eggplant was cultivated and in another plot of 35 decimal land, mintoo variety of tomato was cultivated. Eggplant is the heat tolerant crop and among other varieties, mintoo is also the heat tolerant as well as bacterial wilt resistant variety. So, these two varieties were selected in those demo plots in Polashbari of Gaibandha and Dhaperhat of Pirganj considering the changing climate. The farmers’ opinion was: those vegetables were tasty, high market value and high demand. So, they were happy producing those. Neighbors also showed interest for producing vegetables using those techniques.
BR 28 variety of rice was selected for cultivation as field crop applying the organic manure mixing with reduced amount of chemical fertilizer. Four beneficiary farmers of Pirganj, Gaibandha and Polashbari upazila cultivated rice in their 60, 30, 25 & 35 decimal land respectively taking advice from the assigned staff of BEES. They used the vermi compost & other organic manure and also controlled the harmful insects through applying the perching method instead of using chemical pesticide. These all contributed in mitigating the climate changing issue.
To mitigate the climate change, tree plantation is the simplest and effective method. It reduces the greenhouse gas. As trees absorb carbon from air, protect communities especially of coastal areas, provide shade for all and maintain the wildlife biodiversity, so BEES gives an extra emphasis on tree plantation in its implementing areas.
During the year 2021-2022, BEES distributed 9600 fruits and timber saplings among its beneficiary members. Due to climate change, wind comes with more strength than before and destroys plants a lot every year. So, the plantation of trees is very important to reduce the vulnerability of climate change.
Under the wing livestock & poultry of agriculture program, BEES provides credit, required training and other support services to the beneficiaries. BEES always encourages its clients to rear the cross breeds considering the higher production and resistance in the current climatic condition. It also encourages the native breeds of livestock and poultry which are now under the threat of extinction.
To raise awareness about degrading environmental conditions and to encourage people globally to take positive environmental actions, to help create a better future, World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5 every year. BEES also observed the day as usual. On the occasion of ‘World Environment Day 2022’ a spectacular rally has been organized and several fruit & timber saplings has been distributed to the beneficiaries of Nawabganj upazila.
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