Rural Heritage June/July 2026

In front of the kindergarten, the children’s colorful shoes are arranged in the shape of flowers. May they never give up hope!

there is little to criticize about the overall design of the two-wheeled workhorse carts with their large pneumatic tires and the very lightweight and easy to-repair frame, the harness design and adaptation to the animals are more than worthy of discussion. Wooden sticks are also used, all too often and without regard, to urge the horses on. The horses' behavior ranges from complete apathy to excessive defensive reactions. Some soreness from the harness is visible as well, but less than one might expect. The barefoot hooves are in unexpectedly good condition, wherein the hoof growth and the abrasion by the all-around sandy ground seem to be in balance. However, pronounced limb deformities also indicate that breeding is not given sufficient importance, with premature use and overexertion also contributing to this. Challenges mean opportunities Within all these pressing challenges, lies a transformative opportunity. Reimagine the Chars, where every child is well-nourished, farmers thrive despite changing weather, and incubation programs are unlocking new pathways including animal welfare. Sounds too idealistic? Bangladesh boasts a youthful population, more than 60% of the population is under 35. But nearly 40% of youth are unemployed or underemployed. The national unemployment rate was at 4.7% in 2022 (World Bank, 2026). Therefore, the agricultural

sector offers untapped potential not just to feed the nation but to fuel transformation as well. However, agriculture faces stigma among youth, perceived as low-income, backbreaking labor. There are only very few next-generation farmers in Bangladesh (Anderson et al., 2016). According to World Bank’s data, there is currently a transition from agriculture, still employing 37% of the population in 2021, to off-farm activities. The greatest expansion in the non-agricultural sector has been in the services sector with 41% of the employment, including small shops and rickshaws, as well as in industry with 22% of the total labour force (World Bank, 2025). The average age of farmers is now over 50 (CGIAR, 2025). On the Chars, career aspirations for girls range from nurse to doctor and teacher, while for the boys, police and army officers are the most popular. All relatively secure and well-paid civil service positions, but the willingness to help one's own small Char community is also highly valued. Herein, adequate schooling is indeed the only hope for young people for a better life. Despite their difficult existence, the children haven't lost their joy in life and the love for their country. To revive interest in farming, the sector needs to be rebranded. What’s needed to change this perception is modernization and better access to finance, but in a sustainable way. The current development in South Asia is reminiscent of the development in Europe from the post-war period until now. At

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