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Integrating small farmers into value chains to increase their income and welfare

-Support the hand which feeds us

Prepared for: National Conference on Enhancing the Role of Mass Media Practitioners in Knowledge Transfer to Improve Agricultural Productivity Date: 20-22nd September, 2015. (To be presented on 21st Sept, 2015, 1:30 pm)

Created and presented by: Murtaza Ahmed-Current services to Hunger Free World, an INGO, headquartered in Japan-Founder of Nature’s Wholesome Store, Bangladeshe-mail: mr.murtaza.ahmed@gmail.comCell: +88 0177 619 7996, 011 99 07 3476

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-A value chain is a string of companies or players working together to satisfy market demands for a particular product.

-A value chain is the set of input activities that a company carries out in order to create value for its valued customer.

-A value chain is a sequence of production, processing and marketing activities: products pass through all activities of the chain in a certain order and, with each activity, the product gains value.

-In a well-managed value chain, the value of the end-product is often greater than the sum of valued-added

Math of Value ChainThe value a business creates and captures (-minus-) the cost of creating and capturing that value = their profit margin

Porter, M. 1985

Value Chain and situation in Bangladesh

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OrganizationsCARE BRACiDE HelvetasKATALYST Swiss

ContactFAO SDCIFAD DAIOXFAM VSO RDRS FHIUSAID World VisionIRRI WorldFish

Sector of WorkVegetables FruitsRice WheatSpices PulsesFisheries DairyTea PoultryShrimp Flowers

Situation in Bangladesh:

Work of different organization towards value chain

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Situation in Bangladesh:

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-Hortex Foundation is current existing business organization working in Bangladesh for strengthening value chain.

- Aarong and PRAN, Gemcon Group (Meena Bazaar) are also among other organization working with value chain.

- Vast working opportunity for value chain in Bangladesh

- Diverse products (as mentioned in previous slide)

- Demands in national and international market (Shrimp, Mango, Hilsha, Fish)

- Example of Dairy value chain (Around 10% via formal and 90 %informal sector)

- Need sector wise government intervention to form value chain and cooperatives.

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Small farmers: Do we know them?-About 80% rural farming households in

Bangladesh are small farmers.

- Question is who are small farmers?

- A precise definition is needed for small farmers National Agricultural Extension Policy, Government of Bangladesh.

-Need to know: Small farmers population, location, product and local resources availability.

-We need to know the requirement of farmers for convenient facilitation into value chain.

-Know the existing value chain for different products

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Requirements for entrance into value chain:-Collective bulk product to attract the attention of formal sector/buyers

in value chain.- Increase understanding of product quality along the value chain, and knowledge of market requirements (It should be seasonal and environment friendly)-Practicing environment friendly technology for improved harvest. (Examples from cow, fish, vegetables, rice)-Ability to adapt to updates/ changes. - Requires formation of cooperatives.

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-Value chain should not create imbalance among deserving small farmers despite gender or other social circumstances. (Consider peasants)

-Value chain should ensure Fair Trade and Food Safety. -Fair price and acknowledgement to farmers.- Should not influence actions which causes degradation to the environment.-Ability to adapt to updates/ changes (volatile market)-Facilitate creation of enabling environment for small farmers.

Responsibility of Value Chain Management

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-List down value chain organization and know the small farmers-Mobilize small farmers for creating trust among them and to know their needs-Region wise crop calendar or product harvest plan (Crops, poultry, fish)-Union level planning and intervention- Create cooperatives, if possible one village one cooperative

-Create a single platform Forum for relevant government departments, non-government sectors, media, farmers and donors for appropriate planning and effective work, and increases interconnectivity. (NGO and media)

-Point out the value chain sectors, products, producers and form Department of Value Chain under Government of Bangladesh, and integrate them with other relevant department and non government development sector by forming focal.-Design programs to disseminate information (comprehensive awareness for small farmers and consumers) via state owned channel Bangladesh Television (BTV) and private channels as well.-Form value chain for valuable local products. Example- Honey, local variety fruits, fish and rice (extinct variety), natural/organic/safe food, vermicompost.

Areas to work for integration:

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Impact of consumer awareness on value chain: We are what we eat-Understand the real meaning of farmers product (food)

-Demand should be rationale; not encouraging any unethical practice

-Safe food

-Consumer behavior/ Food intake pattern

-Food Education starting from Primary and Pre Primary education

-Respect the profession of farmers.

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Crucial role of Mass Media:-Capture the safe agricultural practices and successes and

disseminate them via TV, radio, community radio, print media, social media targeting groups from small farmers to consumers.

-Create program to motivate/inspire small farmers/peasants to work together in cooperatives for improved livelihood (income and welfare) (Provide Examples of Hunger Free World and BTV)

-Design program which is self explanatory and easy to understand value chain for different kind of farmers (livestock, fish, crops, spices, fruits).

-Aware consumers on root cause of food adulteration from soil to plate.

-Investigative research and study to know and present authentic information.

-Discourage consumers from consuming products harmful to the environment and health, and provide locally available alternatives.

-Promote Youth Entrepreneurship in this sector.

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-Sharing prosperity: It is a way to go global using local resources but we cannot afford to weaken our national position in the global context.

-Local priorities should be focused

-Long term plan which ensures the sustenance of national resources.

-Discourage or discontinue any actions which are not environment friendly.

- Environment, health and nutrition should be within the focus while integrating small farmers with and to run the value chain.

- Environment friendly technology dissemination. (Seed, Soil, Water, Air and all living being health) – Big role of Media in here.

-Revise the needs of value chain for national and international market.

-Focus on quality with quantity. - For whom is the value chain?

-Create relationship between farmers and consumers

Safety nets for Bangladesh:

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Case Brief

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Thanks for your patience.

Questions ?

-With sincere respect towards farmers: The oldest and respected professions in the world, though lack of acknowledgment made it one of the hardest and disregarded works across the globe.

-Without farmers we will remain hungry and it will affect all of us regardless of country, class and gender.

-Collected