GRAUS places strong emphasis on promoting climate-resilient agriculture and improving nutrition security in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), where communities face unique challenges arising from rugged terrain, climate variability, limited access to cultivable land, and high levels of food insecurity. Recognizing the vulnerability of hill farmers to erratic rainfall, prolonged dry spells, soil erosion, and landslides, GRAUS supports the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices that strengthen resilience while enhancing productivity and household food security.
A key component of GRAUS’s agricultural intervention is the identification, testing, and distribution of climate-resilient crop and vegetable varieties that are suitable for the agroecological conditions of the CHT. Through collaboration with local farmers and agricultural extension services, the organization promotes drought-tolerant, short-duration, and high-yielding varieties that can better withstand changing climatic conditions. These initiatives help farmers reduce production risks, maintain crop yields, and ensure a more stable food supply throughout the year.
Given the limited access to cultivable land among many households, particularly landless and marginal farmers, GRAUS introduces innovative and space-efficient cultivation techniques. These include sack gardening, vertical gardening, and half-moon bund cultivation, which enable families to grow vegetables and nutritious crops in small homestead spaces, sloping land, or degraded areas. Such approaches are particularly relevant in the hilly landscape of the CHT, where conventional farming is often constrained by topography and land scarcity. These methods not only improve access to fresh vegetables but also empower women and vulnerable groups to participate in food production at the household level.
GRAUS also promotes context-specific crops that are well adapted to the environmental conditions of the hill districts. In Bandarban, for example, the organization encourages the cultivation of cassava, a drought-tolerant crop with strong potential for food security and income generation. Cassava’s ability to thrive in poor soils and under variable rainfall conditions makes it a suitable option for climate adaptation in the region. Similarly, GRAUS supports sandy land cultivation techniques in areas where conventional agriculture is difficult, enabling communities to make productive use of otherwise underutilized land resources.
To diversify food sources and strengthen household resilience, GRAUS supports small-scale aquaculture and integrated farming systems. Fish culture in ponds and water bodies provides an important source of protein and micronutrients while creating additional income opportunities for rural households. The organization also promotes community gardens, which serve as platforms for collective food production, nutrition education, and community engagement. These gardens improve access to diverse and nutritious foods, particularly vegetables and fruits, while fostering cooperation among community members.
Nutrition security is integrated throughout GRAUS’s agricultural programming. Beyond increasing food production, the organization focuses on improving dietary diversity and nutrition awareness among households, especially women, children, and other vulnerable groups. Through training, demonstrations, and community outreach, beneficiaries learn about balanced diets, nutritious crop selection, food preparation, and the nutritional value of locally available foods. By linking agriculture with nutrition outcomes, GRAUS contributes to reducing malnutrition and improving overall health and well-being in CHT communities.
Capacity building is another critical element of GRAUS’s approach. The organization provides training, technical support, and practical demonstrations to farmers, community groups, and local institutions on climate-smart agriculture, sustainable land management, seed preservation, integrated pest management, and nutrition-sensitive farming practices. These efforts strengthen local knowledge and skills, enabling communities to sustain agricultural innovations and adapt more effectively to future climate and environmental challenges.
Through its integrated agriculture and nutrition interventions, GRAUS contributes to building resilient livelihoods, enhancing food and nutrition security, and promoting sustainable natural resource management across the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The organization’s context-specific and community-centered approach ensures that vulnerable households are better equipped to cope with climate-related risks while improving their nutritional well-being and economic opportunities.
