Agriculture, farming experiences in Japan

Inspiring by the book ‘One Straw Revelation’ of Masanobu Fukuoka on 1996, I was keenly interested in ideal agriculture and farm-based life. By motivating with non-violence and agriculture philosophy, with a group of young activist, I was devoted to regenerative agriculture in UDP, Thakurgaon. I am regret, I could not continue as the land was not our own! We could not implement our own plan on natural and organic farming. However, I gave up by insulation and non-cooperation of careerist activists. I have tried to push us to do conventional agriculture! Although, I could not continue, but inherit the vision of agriculture. I was my dream to do cultivation in Japan. At last, my vision becomes true this year.

Here in Sado my wife and I have made my small vegetable farm and cultivate different type vegetables. I am proud and feel good to take care the vegetable with love like my children. The test and joy are different to eat own cultivated vegetable. It seems the vegetable talk with me and I can hear the thankful voice and intimate relationship. My vision and plan again restoring to do idea cultivation both in Japan and Bangladesh.

I have got a motivational difference between Bangladesh and Japan. I feel, in agriculture, Bangladesh people mostly look the benefit and big scale cultivation for income. However, family and community-based agriculture getting non-popular. However, in Japan, the main motivation of cultivation is to gardening own vegetable in small scale with priority to own family menu.

The great experiences, during cultivation in Japan from neighbors and friend, we always get volunteer supports and inspirations. Nevertheless, in Bangladesh, I have got opposite feedback and reaction. Most of my friends and relatives discouraged such way, ‘You become crazy. After graduating from university, why do you want to be a farmer! Why do you want to lose your golden professional carrier….’. I could not give the proper answer, but feel everybody should do cultivation and should respect at least farmers and farming. My low-tone reply was to them, ‘We can live without urban-based administration, but can not live without food and cultivation! We love urban, but not rural! Strange our civilization!’
Our vision, to continue cultivation particularly for family food along with our ‘multimedia production’ profession works.

July 9, 2012