Bandarban youths cultivate crops exclusively for birds and wildlife to combat food scarcity
Photo Collected
BANDARBAN — A group of young environmental volunteers in Bandarban has established a dedicated crop field exclusively for birds and wild animals, aiming to mitigate the growing food scarcity caused by shrinking natural habitats.
Located in the Tigerpara area, adjacent to the Nilachal tourist center, the initiative is managed by the Green Milieu Youth Organization. The group has cultivated 60 decimals of hill land—locally known as a “Jum”—where they have grown rice, corn, marfa, chinara, sesame, flax, and various vegetables. Unlike traditional farming, this harvest is strictly off-limits to humans; the entire yield is intended for local fauna, including birds, squirrels, and rodents.
The project, branded as “Pakhir Jum” or “The Birds’ Farm,” is the first of its kind for the organization. Members of the group cleared the land, sowed seeds, and performed all necessary weeding without any external financial assistance. To celebrate the growth of the crops and seek prosperity for the local ecosystem, the volunteers recently performed the traditional Marma “Abongmah” prayer, or Goddess of Wealth puja, within the farm premises.
Priest Mongching Marma, who conducted the ritual, explained that the Marma people believe paying homage to the Goddess of Wealth ensures a bountiful harvest. He noted that the practice is deeply rooted in the community’s nature-centric lifestyle, where reverence for trees, rivers, and wildlife is considered essential to human existence.
Pusainu Marma, General Secretary of the Green Milieu Youth Organization, stated that the initiative is part of their broader “Biodiversity Conservation” program. He emphasized that the primary objective is to raise public awareness about the environment. Because natural forest cover is rapidly depleting, many species are struggling to find food, forcing them to migrate or face local extinction. By providing a sustained food source, the volunteers hope to support the wildlife inhabiting the area surrounding the district town.
Chasingpru Marma, a coordinator for the project, noted that the field is already seeing a regular influx of birds during the morning and evening hours. As the rice crops begin to ripen and turn golden, the volunteers expect the area to serve as a vital refuge for the local wildlife population, ensuring that these animals have a reliable habitat amidst increasing urban encroachment.
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