Empowering rice farmers in Dinajpur, Bangladesh through cooperative action

Описание: In Bangladesh, where agriculture sustains much of the rural population, paddy (rice) farmers continue to face persistent challenges including lack of funds during the cultivation season, high interest rates from moneylenders, rising costs of seeds and fertilizers, and unfair market prices controlled by middlemen who often ignore government-set rates. For many smallholder farmers, these challenges mean that after the harvest, little to no profit remains.

Through the APFP-FO4A program, 20 farmers’ organizations across Bangladesh are working to change this reality. The program supports the socio-economic development of farmers by strengthening cooperatives, providing funding for agri-enterprises, and promoting fair agricultural policies.

One success story is the Dighon Farmers Cooperative (Dighon CIG) in Dinajpur, known for producing aromatic rice. With support from APFP-FO4A, the cooperative developed a business plan that enabled them to access project funding and offer interest-free loans to their members for cultivation. The cooperative also buys the paddy directly from members for milling, saving farmers transport costs and ensuring they receive fair prices.

Today, Dighon CIG is not only improving the livelihoods of its members but is also taking steps toward creating its own rice brand, adding more value to farmers’ hard work and paving the way for a more sustainable and equitable future in Bangladesh’s rice sector.

The APFP-FO4A program is implemented by the Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) and La Via Campesina (LVC), with funding support from the European Union (EU) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The program aims to strengthen the capacities of farmers’ organizations to provide economic services, advocate for enabling policies, and promote sustainable livelihoods for small-scale family farmers across Asia.