Paving the Way for Climate-Resilient Vegetable Farming in Bangladesh

Supported by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) | Partner in Sustainable Development , Solidaridad Asia , together with East-West Seed and the Department of Agricultural Extension- ???? ?????????? ???????? (DAE), started the implementation of ‘Smart Farming, Healthy Food’ project (2020-2025) for developing sustainable and climate-resilient smallholder vegetable production and supply systems in the Barisal and Chittagong divisions of Bangladesh. 25,000 vegetables farmers are expected to increase their production by 20 per cent and income by at least 30 per cent. The project is promoting climate-smart agriculture to ensure resilient and sustainable vegetable production.

Currently, 13,340 semi-commercial farmers (including 6,885 women) possess skills and demonstrable knowledge on climate-smart and hygienic vegetable-production practices. Among these, 1,621 farmers have adopted climate-smart technology native to a minimum of 4 areas; 2,183 farmers have adopted such technology implemented in at least 3 areas; 3,533 farmers have adopted the technology appropriate for at least 2 areas, while the rest have adopted the climate-smart technology of at least 1 area.

A series of meetings and workshop with DAE officials were facilitated to develop a curriculum on climate-smart and good agricultural practices (GAPs), and is in the final stage of approval. Solidaridad is also supporting the farmers with access to finance. For this purpose, the project has developed effective linkages with the Social Islami Bank Limited (SIBIL). At the time of writing, SIBL has supported 307 farmers through a crop-loan scheme amounting BDT 30,434,100 and one entrepreneur through an enterprise loan amounting BDT 200,000. Besides financing the farmers, SIBL is also investing in financial literacy for the farmers.

The project has greatly benefitted farmers such as Jahurul Haque, a key farmer growing vegetables in Kazir Teck, Noakhali district. Jahurul, who has been practising agriculture for the last 12 years, started a demo plot of yard-long beans (YLB) over 420 sq. mt. of land, following the climate-smart techniques taught to him. He states that mulching procedures, in particular, have reduced expenses – against and investment of BDT 2,965, he earned a substantial amount of BDT 24,663. Following this success, he increased the area under YLB cultivation, using climate-smart practices. He also mentions that, with this demo plot, he can motivate and train other farmers in embracing climate-smart technology to boost their yields.

#ClimateSmartFarming #AgriTech #FinancialLiteracy #Mulching #Sustainability #RegenerativeAgriculture