Scaling Farmers’ Hub

Duration	Jan 2025 – Jun 2028
Location	64 District, 200 Upazilas
Outreach	200
Partners	NA

Context:

Program on Agricultural and Rural Transformation for Nutrition, Entrepreneurship, and Resilience in Bangladesh (PARTNER-DAM Part)is implementing by a specialized Government organization, Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM) under the Ministry of Agriculture. Its development objective is to promote diversification, food safety, entrepreneurship, and climate resilience in the agri-food systems of Bangladesh. This project will be implemented from 01 July 2023 to 30 June 2028 funded by GoB, IFAD and World Bank. As an implementing agency, PARTNER-DAM will establish 200 Farmers’ Hub through local entrepreneurs in selected Upazila and Districts within project tenure. It will also provide mentoring and value chain-related services to sustain the entrepreneurs (DLI-9).

SAF Bangladesh has pioneered and successfully implemented an innovative agribusiness model known as “Farmers’ Hub”. The “Farmers’ Hub” is a comprehensive commercial service platform strategically located near agricultural production zones with excellent road connectivity, functioning as a ‘center of excellence’ in remote rural areas, and playing a pivotal role in driving agricultural transformation. This dynamic hub facilitates farmers’ access to quality agri-inputs, cutting-edge farm mechanization, efficient post-harvest handling and marketing solutions, and modern farming technologies and know-how. Furthermore, the Farmers’ Hub goes beyond its primary role by actively supporting agribusinesses through the promotion of responsible sourcing practices. By fostering a symbiotic relationship between farmers and the broader agricultural ecosystem, it emerges as a cornerstone in fostering sustainable and thriving agriculture system. It enhances farm productivity and ensures quality and fair prices. The Farmers’ Hub is a bankable business model operated by a rural youth who serves 300-1000 community farmers commercially and earns BDT 30,000-80,000 per month. Farmers’ Hub entrepreneurs reach break-even points within 1.5-2.5 years.

Objectives: 

 Key objective of DLI 9 is Promoting Sustainable and Nutritious Food Production. Specific Objectives are-

• Efficient Input Use:

Encouraging the efficient use of agricultural inputs to optimize resource utilization and minimize environmental impact.

• Alleviation of Food Safety Issues:

Developing and promoting good agricultural practices to address and reduce food safety challenges.

• Climate-Smart Agriculture:

Developing and adopting stress-tolerant and nutrient-dense rice varieties and climate-smart production packages to enhance resilience to climate change.

• Crop Diversification:

Promoting the cultivation of non-rice cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and spices to diversify production and improve nutritional intake.  

Key Activities:

• Find out and onboarding potential entrepreneurs for implementation of Farmers Hub.
• Capacity building of Farmers’ Hub entrepreneurs.
• Link Farmers’ Hub entrepreneurs with input and output market.
• Organize exposure visit for the Farmers’ Hub entrepreneurs.
• Mentoring support to Farmers’ Hub entrepreneurs
• Provide business promotional support to Farmers’ Hub entrepreneurs.
• Follow up Farmers’ Hub construction and business of entrepreneurs.
• Business monitoring and trouble shooting

Achievements (so far):

• SAF and PARTNER-DAM has been signed MoU.
• 10 PARTNER Farmers’ Hub have been up and running business.
• Different planned activities related to Farmers’ Hub development have been completed.
• 10 Farmers’ Hub are engaged in Nursery and Agri machinery rental business, seven are buying and selling business.
• One Farmers’ Hub is linked with Two Formal buyers Like; Meena Bazar and SHWAPNO