Project Jagoroni

Local Committee:

IAAS Bangladesh IUBAT

Name of the Project:

Project Jagoroni – Empowering Women of Rural Communities through Value-Added Mango Products and Eco-Friendly Farming Practices

Project Implementation Site:

Bashkopa Village, Prahladpur Union, Sreepur Upazila, Gazipur District, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Name of Contact Person:

Sourav Kanti Bala

Email of Contact Person:

iubat@iaasworld.org

Description of the Project:

Project Jagoroni is a community-centered rural development initiative designed to empower women, reduce agricultural waste, and promote sustainable environmental practices in Bashkopa village of Gazipur, Bangladesh. The project was developed under the Women in Agriculture (WIA) and Village Concept Project (VCP) frameworks of IAAS, focusing on improving livelihoods through agro-processing, climate-smart farming, and environmental restoration.

Bashkopa village is naturally rich in agricultural resources and is surrounded by mango and jackfruit orchards along the Chilai River. During a field survey conducted on April 10, 2025, the project team identified several critical challenges affecting local farmers and women. Most mango trees in the area are 30–40 years old traditional varieties, which are highly vulnerable to pest infestation and post-ripening losses. In addition, Gazipur, known as the jackfruit capital of Bangladesh, suffers from severe post-harvest losses where nearly 45% of jackfruit production is wasted due to oversupply, poor storage, weak market linkage, and unfair pricing.

The Chilai River, once an important natural resource for the community, is now heavily polluted and blocked by invasive water hyacinth, reducing water flow and affecting the local ecosystem. Farmers in the area also rely excessively on chemical fertilizers and pesticides because of limited knowledge of sustainable agricultural methods, increasing production costs while harming soil health and biodiversity.

To address these issues, Project Jagoroni aims to train rural women in producing value-added products such as mango bars, pickles, jackfruit chips, and traditional ready-to-cook food items. These activities will create income opportunities, strengthen entrepreneurship, and enhance women’s participation in agriculture and community leadership.

The project will also organize workshops and training programs on climate-smart agriculture, integrated pest management (IPM), vermicomposting, and eco-friendly compost production using water hyacinth. Alongside agricultural activities, community-driven campaigns will be conducted to restore the Chilai River through cleaning initiatives and environmental awareness programs.

By integrating women’s empowerment, sustainable farming, and environmental conservation, Jagoroni serves as a grassroots model for resilient rural development while contributing to multiple Sustainable Development Goals including Zero Hunger, Gender Equality, Climate Action, and Responsible Consumption.

Objective of the Project:

Empower rural women through agro-processing and entrepreneurship development.

Reduce post-harvest losses of mango and jackfruit through processing and improved market linkage.

Promote sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural practices.

Improve pest and disease management using Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

Strengthen community capacity through agricultural training and awareness programs.

Restore and conserve the Chilai River ecosystem through community participation.

Start Date and End Date:

April 10, 2025 – December 31, 2025

Project Team:

Sourav Kanti Bala – Project Leader

Shahriar Mannan Imon Talukder – Research & Strategy Developer