Riktu Prasad works as a District Correspondent in Gaibandha for DBCNews. She is also an Executive Member of the Press Club.

As a mentee of the GCA/BBC Media Action Training Program, Riktu produced a story on how the local community members of Kapasia Char, Gaibandha have set up a greenbelt spanning 7 km along the bank of Teesta River, by collectively planting banana trees and vetiver grass. More than 15,000 people in the area are now protected from the risk of erosion. Farmers are also using solar irrigation systems to cut down production costs during droughts.

She also reported how the farmers of Rangpur have collectively set up vegetable gardens on raised beds to protect the crops during periods of excessive rainfall. Women in the Char are using the ‘sack gardening’ method for cultivating ginger and sheep rearing as an alternative livelihood option.