Welcome to Bangladesh Agriculture

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MMI Project Launch Workshop

Tour stop audio transcript

For many, traveling to the capital of Dhaka involved long and hot cross-country bus rides during heavy rains, but it worth it for the 45 leaders from farmer organizations to attend the launch of the MMI project alongside their government, national bank, and development partners. The project was launched by the Minister of Agriculture, who expressed strong support for the initiative and its efforts to assist smallholder and marginal farmers. The farmer organizations did not shy away from sharing what works and from voicing their concerns. “When we – poor women folk – ask for a loan, the bank often ignores us,” said one farmer from Bangladesh’s coastal region, to which they were informed of a hotline to log their complaints, and that action would be taken against local branches that reject or take advantage of farmers.

Panjarbhanga Mahila Dugdha Utpadonkari Samobay Samity

Tour stop audio transcript

At the Panjor Bhanga village in Kawnia, more than 30 women are taking control of their economic power to improve their lives and those of their families. Their journey began in 2011, when Renu Bala went from house-to-house to explain her business idea and create the dairy cooperative. Under the IAPP, project partners worked directly with the community to build knowledge and skills on farming practices and link them to markets, leading to significant improvements like better breeds of cows, lower threat of anthrax and other diseases, and an increase in milk production. Today, these women are collecting more than 200 liters of milk per day, and supplying it to local sweet shops and milk processing companies at premium prices. The MMI project is expected to build on these successes. But they won’t stop there – they have dreams of scaling-up and moving into agro-processing to produce chilled pasteurization products like yogurt, ricotta cheese, and ice cream. In turn, they have seen major lifestyle improvements and the women are empowered to have a greater say in household expenditure. The village has also seen a decrease in child marriages and domestic violence.

BADC Pulse and Oil Seed Processing Center and Potato Cold Storage

Tour stop audio transcript

The Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), promoting the use of quality seeds through its national networks, collects high quality breeder seeds of improved varieties (rice, wheat, maize, potato, bari mustard, and more) then processes and preserves them at various processing and storage centers across the country. These seeds are multiplied and sold to farmers at subsidized prices.

Jatrapur Union Federation

Tour stop audio transcript

Members of the Sara Bangla Krishok Society, a federation made up of 40 farmer organizations, gathered to share their stories and exchange lessons with the MMI project team. Thanks to the support they received under IAPP, these farmer organizations are thriving. For example, by using low-cost vermi-composing machinery built and rented out by a farmer under IAPP, farmers are able to bring down the cost of production while increasing yields, leading to higher profits and a safer environment. Another farmer organization is capitalizing on an idea to turns garbage in the streets into a business by collecting and composting it.

Gangahari IAPP Krishak Samobay Samity

Tour stop audio transcript

Upon entering the village, you are met by men harvesting, threshing, and storing rice, and women husking, drying, and packaging it. One of BADC’s contract villages, this farmer organization has adopted a community approach called ‘seed village’, where all members are involved in the production process. Not only do they have enough food to eat, they are now able to sell seeds and gain income, leading to better lifestyles. Every house in the village has a fridge and television, and most, if not all, members have a cellphone, and some even have internet connectivity.