Farmers and workers are adopting food safety measures to supply safe mango to international markets.
Safe fruits for international markets
Together with the three entrepreneurs and with support from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), GoB, the SaFaL programme in Bangladesh is mobilising 200 mango and 500 vegetable producers. They are being provided with support to enter into contract farming in order to produce high quality and safe mango and vegetables for both domestic and international markets. Through this public and private engagement, SaFaL is facilitating the adoption of good farming practices, access to better inputs and post-harvest management and storage and packaging, which are facilitating smallholder mango farmers entering into high-end markets. It also helps to increase the productivity of their farm business.
Contract farming attracts investments
Contract farming is also encouraging an enabling business environment by mobilising public-private investment and support towards inclusive growth of the sector. Solidaridad is working with the Bangladesh government to frame a “national action plan” to make contract farming mandatory to enhance the Bangladesh export market share of fruit and vegetables. The plan includes robust farmer support and market structures for the production and marketing of high quality and safe mango.
Solidaridad, in partnership with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh, has been implementing the Sustainable Agriculture, Food Security and Linkages (SaFaL) programme in southwest Bangladesh. SaFaL is supporting 58,492 farmers to trigger and facilitate a paradigm shift for producing quality and safe food, adding value in post-harvest management and extending support for the farmers and agribusiness entrepreneurs for entering into national and export markets. The project undertook a collaborative approach with multiple stakeholders and developed business models that are increasing income and employment opportunities for farmers and supply chain actors.