Building Resilient Livelihood: Stories from the Chittagong Hill Tracts

Located in the extreme southeastern part of the country, the districts that comprise the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) are both geographically and socio-culturally distinct from the rest of Bangladesh. Food insecurity is both chronic and widespread, and nutrition levels are among the lowest in the country.

In 2013, FAO began activities in CHT to increase food security and help rural men and women farmers restore and diversify their livelihoods, and strengthen their resilience to future shocks and stresses. Through a project entitled ‘Increased food and nutrition security in remote areas of Chittagong Hill Tracts through resilience building measures,’ the Organization worked with 6 200 households in Sajek, in the district of Rangamati and Thanchi, in the district of Bandarban.

The project, funded by the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO), provided a range of inputs such as seeds, feed and fertilizer, along with training not only for improved jum farming and better rice yields, but also for poultry farming, vegetable and fruit production. Beneficiaries were also instructed in nutrition and dietary diversity, as well as in household hygiene and household food safety.

06/03/2017