ESDO introduced organic agriculture through its Zero-waste Village project. According to our clear vision of safe and sustainable environmental livelihood, ESDO launched this project at the community level; we believe waste management needs to be started from the community level with the help of common people. By managing the solid waste of every household, resource mobilization and safe and sustainable livelihood will be possible also by selling the composted waste; people can earn money which will be counted as an alternative income source for them and also without carefree dumping of waste, that community can make a sustainable and green environment.

The total project timeline is 2013-2017. We have divided the project activities into three stages:

1. Learning, trial & fixing the problems:

The first year of this project (2013) is mainly the trial and error period.

2. Piloting year:

By 2014, we have made that area a model area for all other village areas so that we can promote their success. Resource Centre for Waste Management has been established to operate all the villages under Mammatpur, Porsha, Naogon and Rajshahi.

3. Final project implementation period [2015-2017]:

Through the model area, our next initiatives will be to make the whole village a model village for others in terms of zero waste villages. We want to make that village a Zero waste village and make a sustainable environmental livelihood for all.

Present Scenario

Currently, ESDO has set up organic farming plots in Balapara Betgari, Gangachara, Rangpur. 

The farming plot is being cultivated using cow dung, compost and organic fertilizer only. The cultivator is happy to observe the growth of the crops though the production is not high as chemical fertilizer can produce. Therefore, the cultivator is willing to continue farming using compost in the long run because of its quality and taste. Irri 29 and green chillies were cultivated and ready to
harvest.

Current crops growing in the plot
IRRI 29 and Green Chilies.

Outcome
In the organic farming plot, Irri 29 were cultivated, covering most of the plot area. After cutting crops, a total of 239 kg of paddy were available. The nearby people of the farming plot are gradually being motivated to practice organic farming.