A sunflower field is in full bloom in the heart of Protapnagar, Assasuni. Protapnagar Union, located in Satkhira District, Bangladesh, sits on the edge of the Sundarbans mangrove forest. Nearby, on the roofs of farmers’ homes, beetroots dry under the sun, soon to be ground into fine powder and sent to Dhaka-based agro markets. Similarly, farmers are also cultivating fennel and mustard collaboratively.

Here, in one of the most climate-vulnerable corners of Bangladesh, farmers are battling multiple layers of environmental and economic uncertainty with remarkable grit, innovation, and a wealth of traditional knowledge. Moving away from the unsustainable monoculture of commercial shrimp farming, farmers are embracing agroecology-based livelihoods.

Community’s Journey from Vulnerability to Resilience through Agroecology

In Protapnagar, the rhythm of daily life here is punctuated by the roar of recurrent cyclones, the slow creep of rising sea levels, and the sudden rush of coastal flooding. Saltwater intrusion made farming difficult — degrading the soil, killing crops, and pushing biodiversity to the brink. The once-fertile land now struggled to sustain even basic livelihoods. Climate change wasn’t a distant concern here; it was felt in every harvest, every empty field, and every uncertain meal.

Beyond climate disasters, commercial shrimp farming have worsened the crisis. Shrimp enclosures — dominated by powerful elites with political influence — accelerated soil salinity, turning arable land barren and displacing small farmers.

Things changed in 2022. After enduring months of flooding caused by a breached embankment following Cyclone Amphan, the people of Protapnagar took charge. United by loss, they realized their future couldn’t be left in the hands of others.

In a decisive local election, they voted overwhelmingly for leadership committed to agriculture and sustainability. It marked a turning point; away from exploitation and toward self-determination, resilience, and hope.

The newly elected leadership took swift action and banned shrimp enclosures inside embankment protected area. With renewed hope and determination, the people of Protapnagar turned back to their roots, embracing agroecology-based livelihoods once more.

The reintroduction of agroecology, however, wasn’t without its challenges. Restoring the once-degraded land came at a high cost, both financially and in terms of effort. Fresh water for irrigation remained scarce, making it difficult to cultivate crops consistently. Farmers lacked connections to more profitable markets and struggled with the technical expertise needed for value-added production.

Introducing ENGAGE: Research to Action

To support Protapnagar’s shift toward sustainable farming, the ENGAGE project was launched — a collaborative initiative rooted in local knowledge, research, and action. Titled “ENGAGE: Eliciting Needs-based Grassroots Action through Cross-Group Engagement”, the project is being implemented by SAJIDA Foundation in partnership with the University of Lausanne, the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, and the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh.

Funded by the Solution-oriented Research for Development (SOR4D) programme — a joint initiative of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) — the project takes a transdisciplinary ‘research to action’ approach to build long-term community resilience.

Strength in Numbers: The Farmer Commons Model

To make agroecology more accessible, the project introduced ‘farmer commons’ — groups of local farmers pooling land, capital, and labour to farm collectively. This model reduces individual burden and promotes shared responsibility. With technical and logistical support, these commons are now growing crops that are both profitable and environmentally friendly, helping to revive degraded land and bringing back local biodiversity. In Protapnagar, With support from ENGAGE 30 farmers, including 12 women, working in six collaborative groups, are planting seeds not just for harvest, but for long-term sustainability and community resilience.

At the heart of this innovative initiative lies the concept of ‘fostering commons through collective action’. It’s more than a short-term solution; it’s about building a foundation for long-term, community-led change. By promoting agroecology and cooperation, the project aims to reduce soil salinity, increase agriculture yields, restore ecosystem, and support local entrepreneurship for lasting impact.

More than just farming, ENGAGE is about social resilience, rebuilding relationship between people and land. It promotes climate resilience by strengthening flexible cooperation, care for the ecosystem, and a deep connection to the bio physical environment they live in. This includes forming farmer commons, training young people to add value to crops locally, and improving access to better markets — all working together to create sustainable, locally rooted change.

Early evaluations of the project have revealed promising outcomes. Farmers have reported an increase in production, better prices for value-added products, and enhanced cooperation within farmers commons. Beyond economic gains, the project is contributing positively to the environment. The full scope of biodiversity improvement is yet to be fully measured, presenting a valuable opportunity for future research.

Way Forward

To reduce risk and ensure income, farmers now sell their produce to a local processing unit run by trained entrepreneurs. These small businesses turn raw crops into refined goods, which are then sold in premium markets in Dhaka through an agro startup. This model strengthens the local economy and ensures steady demand for both farmers and processors.

While progress is promising, long-term success depends on stronger support from both local and national governments. Policies that prioritize smallholder farmers and rural entrepreneurs are urgently needed. ENGAGE’s collaborative research-led action model offers a roadmap for replication; one that puts communities at the center of climate resilience.

Written by Nurul Islam Biplob, Lead Researcher, Research and Evaluation, Sajida Foundation, and Shimin Mushsharat, Research Communication Specialist, Research and Evaluation, Sajida Foundation