In NETZ projects, women work together to achieve economic success. Village groups provide the foundation for overcoming extreme poverty and building a life of dignity.

In late summer, the fields turn bright yellow and stretch as far as the eye can see. Mustard, a well-known crop, is grown here in northern Bangladesh—and it has transformed the lives of Sita Tudu, Minoti Rani, and Laboni Akhter. These three women are among the more than 22,000 success stories created by the NETZ project priority area “Climate-Resilient Livelihoods” in 2024. The concept is simple: women come together to form village groups, building a strong foundation of mutual support. They receive agricultural training and quickly improve their diets by raising chickens and ducks, and growing fruits and vegetables. They also plan how to generate sustainable income, whether through livestock farming, running small businesses, or, as in this case, cultivating mustard.

The three women, who were married as teenagers, once lived in extreme poverty. They were agricultural day labourers with no property of their own, living lives marked by dependence—on their husbands and the large landowners who provided them with work. They were trying to survive from day to day. However, this changed when they became project participants and joined their respective village groups. Laboni Akhter (26, mother of two) from Mofizpara received training in climate-resilient agriculture and started with a cow as start-up capital. Using the profits, she leased a plot of land where she now grows mustard and peanuts. Last year, she sold 40 kilograms and uses the oil she produces for cooking. She also shares tips from her farming experience with others around her. “I am proud to be able to provide for my family, and I thank my village group for enabling me to live independently.” Sita Tudu, an indigenous woman from Baipur, also learned from her village group that mustard is a resilient plant that requires little water and thrives well. For just under 30,000 taka (€250), she can sell her harvest from the previous year. Minoti Rani, a mother of four from Jianapara, expects to earn a similar amount. She never imagined she could make a living from mustard farming, and it is all thanks to the solidarity of her village group: “My dream has come true.”

What we have planned for 2025

Since the launch of the priority area “Climate-resilient livelihoods,” many project participants and their families have permanently overcome hunger and poverty. NETZ is working to ensure that these successes are sustained in the long term. One of the key tasks is maintaining close contact with well-established, independent village groups.