UNDP joins campaign to raise $25,000 for farmers in Bangladesh

The Global Compact Malaysia and the United Nations Development Programme Bangladesh have joined a crowd-funding campaign that aims to raise $25,000 for farmers in the next 40 days.

In a statement, the UNDP Bangladesh said they are committed to boosting the impact of the “Growing together in Bangladesh” initiative through the “Farmers becoming entrepreneurs” campaign.

The “Growing together in Bangladesh” is an innovative franchise model to support farmers' access to market by passing the numerous middle entities that affect prices and consequently income.

Through 230 farmers' groups, the initiative has achieved significant results in the past two years, increasing three-fold the net income of 10,000 small farmers.

The campaign will raise the fund to test a digital innovation for 500 farmers, who will have access to mobile devices and technology to connect to local markets and value chains, and to manage their finances.

The innovation will transform small farmers into entrepreneurs, according to the statement.

At the end of the project, the digital innovation will reach 10,000 farmers. The goal will be achieved through individual and private sector contributions channeled through the alternative financing platform that is supporting the project: Impact Bangladesh.

Private sector companies such as Syngenta have already contributed financial resources to the initiative. Those who wish to join the campaign can find more details at www.impactbangladesh.org/product/ turn-500-farmers-into-entrepreneurs/.

In Bangladesh, small farmers are not integrated with the local market and are not receiving fair prices. Over 75 percent of them live on less than $2 per day.