The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched the "Accelerating Economic and Social Inclusion through Strong Producers’ Organizations in Bangladesh" (ACCESS) project.
The initiative is a collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Sara Bangla Krishak Society (SBKS). It aims to improve rural livelihoods for over 25,000 smallholder farmers in climate-affected regions, reads a press release.
The launch event in Dhaka included members of the farming community, government organizations, the private sector, and development partners.
Secretary of Agriculture, Wahida Akter, was the Chief Guest. She emphasised the need for innovative and inclusive business models like ACCESS. "To help communities struggling with climate change, we must innovate inclusive business models like the ACCESS project," said Akter.
Dia Sanou, FAO Representative in Bangladesh, spoke about the project's focus on agribusiness clusters. "FAO works with smallholder producer organizations to strengthen rural livelihoods. Together, we will support smallholders in transforming their subsistence farms into successful businesses," said Sanou.
Representatives from Bangladesh Krishi Bank, PKSF, Bangladesh Bank, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, the Department of Agricultural Extension, and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council were present. They discussed the potential support their organizations can provide.
Rita Bramma, President of SBKS, thanked all supporters. "We are grateful to all who support smallholder farmers in Bangladesh. Your support helps us uplift those struggling with climate change," said Bramma.
After the inaugural session, FAO, SBKS, and nearly 100 members of the farming community from climate hotspots held an informal working session.
