Unbelievable though, only a shallow irrigation machine costing Tk 18000 has raised hopes for a better life among about 70 families in a remote shoal in the Jamuna basin in Fulchari.

Most of them are day labourers, share croppers and marginal farmers with land holdings up to two bighas in Char Pepulia.

Earlier they had moved to banks and government agencies for this small assistance without collateral, but were denied.

It was in March last year when a field worker of local NGO Samaj Kallan Sangstha went there out of curiosity. Witnessing their interest and the prospect, he arranged for them the small irrigation machine with finance from Oxfam and organised them into a 'producers group'. Oxfam gave the assistance under

its River Basin Programme, that covers some other shoal areas in Gaibandha district.

This enthused the farmers. They cultivated jute and maize. With proper irrigation, the yields were almost double the earlier.

They got 20 to 25 maunds of maize per bigha against only around 8 maunds earlier without irrigation. The HYV maize seeds were procured for them by the NGO official from the government's agriculture department.

They are very happy now as jute price is also higher this year.

"Thanks to Oxfam for providing us with an irrigation machine that was really very much essential for," said Nurun Nabi, a leader of the 'producers group'.

"Last year we move from door one bank to another for loan but they denied to provide loan to shoal people", Nurun Nabi said while

talking to this correspondent during a recent visit.

"Using irrigation facilities we produced over 200 manund of jute from 25 bighas of land and we expect a better return as price of jute is rising", said its member Kantu Bepari.

"Jute was hardly cultivated in chars (shoals) earlier," said Mohiuddin Mondal.

Rashida Begum, a female member, said "In the ensuing Rabi season we will cultivate HYV maize on 25 bighas. We will produce chilly, early variety Boro, potato and vegetables on the fertile char lands.

"We will have good harvests and change our lives by the grace of God", a she said.

"Our men used to work as day labourers elsewhere. Now we work on our own lands", she said.