BANBAT, a Bangladeshi peacekeeping contingent in the Central African Republic, has undertaken agricultural initiatives to promote development and peace in the country. They presented a model "One House- One Farm" integrated farming system at an agricultural fair to encourage self-sufficiency. BANBAT also provides training, equipment, and technical assistance to farmers, prisoners, and orphanages to cultivate their lands. Through these community farming and capacity building efforts, BANBAT aims to generate employment, reduce unemployment, malnutrition and conflict among the population.

1. “One House- One Farm”- Concept of
Integrated Farming: Key to Development
of Central African Republic.
By Major Muhammad Muktaruzzaman,DVM,MS
Agriculture Adviser,BANBAT
Bangladesh Battalion,MINUSCA
mmuktaruzzaman@gmail.com
Introduction
1. BANBAT was deployed in Central African Republic in 2014 with a view to
guarding the MSR-1 and established the peace within the AOR. Beside the
assigned task, BANBAT is performing many activities for the welfare of the
people of Central African Republic. The activities of BANBAT helped capacity
building of the local people and local authorities. These activities win the hearts
and minds of the mass population and contribute to the development of the
country as well.
2. BANBAT is a contingent having Agriculture Adviser and agricultural equipment.
The Agriculture Adviser identified the main problem of the instability of the
country is unemployment of young generation. The country is full of natural
resources and has a vast scope of development in Agriculture and livestock
sector. The villages are scattered and dis-organized, the people are sitting idle in
their houses. If the people cane organized and bring under agricultural activities,
the country will develop and establish peace within very short time.
Participation in Agricultural Fair in Bouar
3. CARITAS, the NGO organized an agricultural fair of two days in BOUAR in
coordination with Government of CAR. Minister of Forest & Water resources,
Government of CAR along with three other ministers and ambassador of France
inaugurated the fair. BANBAT participated in this Agricultural Fair with a stall.
BANBAT displayed various seeds of vegetables and crops, tractors and a model
farm. That stall was a way of interacting with the farmers, assisted the rural
people of CAR in providing them technical support as well as training support for
farming. BANBAT aimed to support the agricultural sector within BANBAT AOR
and as a whole to CAR in boosting up the rural economy. This may also assist
ex-combatants by training them in farming, helping them in cultivating their lands
and thereby assisting DDR process of MINUSCA in rehabilitating them. Madam

2. Minister also visited the BANBAT stall and thanked BANBAT for participating in
fair and assisting the farmers of CAR.
Fig. BANBAT participated in Agriculture Fair in BOUAR
Model Presentation on ‘One House- One Farm’
4. Central Africa Republic is a country full of natural resources with very
limited populations. Most of the people live on agriculture and it is the
main employment opportunity of inhabitants of CAR. Maximum population
lives in villages and the villages are small in size. The villages are mostly 15
to 30 families and are in cluster form. Farmer are cultivated their land far
from villages and are in scattered form. Unemployment is another big
problem for the country. There is no small or medium industries, the only
agriculture farming can solve the problem alone. In these aspect
communities based integrated farming can be best method of removing all
problems from this country.
5. BANBAT showed a model of Integrated Farming System in the Agriculture
Fair in Bouar. The model represents a house will convert into farm house.
This model was highly appreciated by the National dignitaries and
participants. A family can live on that farm and can earn extra cash on
that.In these respect Integrated Community Farming can change the
country within very short time. By this way people can be accumulated in
groups, unity can be achieved, developing the agriculture. Integrated
community farming can be the key to success of this country. The rebel

3. groups can also be bringing under the agricultural training, which ultimately
will bring peace and prosperity.
6. Benefits of Integrated Community Farming. Integrated
Community Farming will be most effective for the development of Central
African Republic. It has following benefits:
a. Utilization of manpower of the villages effectively.
b. Employment generation within the community.
c. Encouragepeople to cultivate lands.
d. Verities types of agricultural products will be producewithin the
villages.
e. Scarcity of food will be reduced.
f. Nutrition deficiency will be reduced.
g. Develop the country economically and socially.

4. Fig.Model of Ideal Farm House in Agriculture Fair.
7. Training on Agriculture and Microfinance.
a. On 18 April 2016, CARITAS an international NGO organized a
training on Agriculture and Micro-finance for local farmers and trainers at
BOUAR. BANBAT participated providing a lecture and demonstration on
modern technique on agriculture and livestock farming. Agriculture Adviser
of BANBAT delivered a lecture and arranged a demonstration which was
highly appreciated by the forum. A group of young and energetic youth
were attended the training program.
b. On 09 August 2016 at 1000 hours, BANBAT Agriculture Adviser
conducted a training class to the prisoners of BOUAR prison. About 15
prisoners and security personnel’s of prison attended the class. After the
class, BANBAT distributed some fruit and vegetable seeds and seedlings
like Banana, Papaya, Brinjal, and Green Chili, Gourd nut, Pumpkins and
some other leguminous vegetables. BANBAT Agricultural team displayed
the procedure of cultivating fruits and vegetable crops practically. This
program was highly appreciated by the participants. This was aimed at the
capacity building and rehabilitation of prisoners and assists them to return
to normal life.

5. Fig. BANBAT is taking Training Class on Integrated Farming and Microfinance
8. Agricultural Land Cultivation to Local People.
a. On 20 April 2016 BANBAT had assisted in agricultural land for an
orphanage run by catholic mission in area yole. This will help them to grow
and sell agricultural goods in future. The earnings from this will provide
additional support to the orphanage. This has helped to win the hearts and
minds of locals and uplift the image of UN/MINUSCA as a whole.
b. In the series of CIMIC activities focusing IDBHT-2016, On 26 May 2016,
BANBAT has assisted in agricultural land for an orphanage run by catholic
mission in area YOLE, BOUAR. This will help them to grow and sell
agricultural goods in future. The earnings from this will provide additional
support to the orphanage. This is also likely to win the hearts and minds of
locals and uplift the image of UN/MINUSCA as a whole.
c. On 09 June 2016 BANBAT assisted in agricultural land cultivation for
ANDE (Authority National DE Elevage) in BOUAR to Maigaro Route at
Elevage Formation School. This will help them to grow and sell agricultural
goods in future. The earnings from this will provide additional support to
the organization. This is likely to win the hearts and minds of locals and
uplift the image of UN/MINUSCA as a whole.
d. BANBAT provided necessary support to the Corrections Unit at BOAUR
on 05 July 2016. 2 x tractors of BANBAT were employed to plough the
chunk of land beside the Mason D’arret to implement Prison’s Agricultural
Field Project.
e. BANBAT also provide his tractor and expert agricultural personnel for the
cultivation of land and training on modern cultivation in BOSSEMPTELE. I
this area, a large number of agricultural plot has prepared by BANBAT.
Around 1,000 people of BOSSEMPTELE will be benefited from the
project.
f. On 07 October 2016 BANBAT provide tractor and agricultural Expert for
the people of GALLO village. BANBAT cultivate around 05 acres of

6. agricultural land and gave training on modern cultivation technique. About
100 people will be benefited directly.
Fig. BANBAT is cultivating Land of Local people of CAR
9. Training of Prisoner on Agriculture Activities. BANBAT has given agricultural
training and assist cultivation a chunk of land in the BOUAR prison. The prisoner
of BOUAR participate the training class with the help of local Gendermere and
MINUSCA FPU. The program was highly appreciated by the Justice and
Correction Team and the prisoner as well. BANBAT prepared a model agriculture
farm, vegetables garden and modern technique of farming.
Fig. Training to Prisoner of BOUAR on Agriculture

7. Activities of BANBAT for the Development CAR
10.BANBAT with his experienced agricultural team can assist the people of Central
African Republic in many ways. These activities will ultimately help for the
development of population and as well as country itself. The activities of
BANBAT in agriculture sector are as follows:
a. Provide tractors for the cultivation of lands.
b. Provide training on modern agricultural activities.
c. Provide training on Integrated Community farming and Microfinance.
d. Technological and Technical help on agricultural matter.
e. Provide technical help on establishment of Livestock and poultry farms.
f. Demonstration on “One House- One Farm” for the farmers and villagers.
Conclusion
11.All of the above activities were done by the BANBAT for the betterment of the
local population. These activities will help for the development of the Central
African Republic. Only agricultural activities can change the country within very
short time and peace can be established. The CIMIC activities were highly
praised by the CAR authorities and as well as MINUSCA. These will help to win
the hearts and minds of local population and uphold the image of MINUSCA in
Central African Republic. These activities will bring the ultimate peace for the
country.