RAJSHAHI, Oct 27, V7N- Additional Divisional Commissioner (General), Torafdar Akter Jamil, emphasized the vital role that women farmers play in food production and organic farming, which promotes soil health, efficient land use, safe food production, and nutrition security. Furthermore, these rural women and small farmers are also contributing significantly to addressing climate change impacts.

To create a more equitable and prosperous Bangladesh, he stressed the importance of recognizing women farmers' contributions in agricultural policy, ensuring their inclusion in government services, and facilitating access to resources. Jamil called for initiatives at both governmental and social levels to establish women's rights across all sectors.

These remarks were made at a workshop held on Sunday (October 27) at the NGO Forum conference room in Rajshahi. The event, jointly organized by the Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD) and Rural Underprivileged Landless Farmers' Organization (RULFAO), was titled “Inclusion of Rural Women Farmers in Government Agricultural Services and Bank Agricultural Loans and Existing Challenges.”

Afzal Hossain, Executive Director of RULFAO, Rajshahi, delivered the welcome address at the workshop. Mubinur Rahman, Program Officer of ALRD, Rajshahi, presented the main paper.

Presiding over the workshop, ALRD’s Executive Director Shamsul Huda was joined by special guests, including Rajshahi Agricultural Development Bank’s Zonal Manager Mohabbat Ali Biswas, Deputy Director of the Women's Affairs Department Shabnam Sharmin, and District Cooperative Officer Akram Hossain.

The workshop featured discussions led by Professor Dr. Sabrina Naz from the Department of Botany, Rajshahi University; Professor Dr. Mobara Siddika from the Department of Folklore, Rajshahi University; BLRI Scientific Officer Dr. Sukumar Roy; and development activist and women entrepreneur Dr. Farida Parveen Keya.

Speeches were also delivered by grassroots cooperative members and women farmers, including Dulari Murmu from Tanore’s Moher Ganaprochesta group, Kalidas Karmakar from Krishnapur Karmakar Ganaprochesta group, and Sharifa Akhter Nipa from Shapla Janosamabay Nari Dal in Chatmohar.

END/RAR/DHK/RH