Bayer Steps Up Its Commitments to Support Smallholder Farmers in Asia
Bayer officials and local leaders open Bangladeshās newest Better Life Farming Center. Itās one of 50 located in the country.
TheĀ Better Life Farming AllianceĀ (BLFA),Ā BayerāsĀ global, multi-stakeholder partnership model that provides holistic and innovative solutions for smallholder farmers in developing economies, has launched in Bangladesh and Indonesia.
The BLFA advances many of theĀ United Nations Sustainable Development GoalsĀ aimed at ending hunger and achieving food security by connecting smallholder farmers to a holistic agricultural production management ecosystem. This enables the alliance to support rural development by increasing economic opportunities for smallholders and connecting them to markets to support food security in low-and-middle income countries.
āThe Better Life Farming model has helped smallholder farmers enhance crop yields and farm profitability and progress from subsistence farming to commercial farming. In addition, it has empowered rural farming communities to earn additional incomes and enhance their livelihood,ā said D Narain, Senior Bayer Representative in South Asia and Global Sponsor of the Smallholder initiative. āWith the Better Life Farming centers, our aim is to create a more inclusive agri-ecosystem where all smallholder farming needs ranging from agri-inputs, agri-advisory, knowledge and capacity building, market linkages and financial solutions are taken care of under one roof. Going forward, we plan to scale the Better Life Farming Alliance across Asia and beyond.ā
Each Better Life Farming Center is run by a rural agri-entrepreneur, offering products and services, from the partnersā portfolio directly to farmer customers. Joining Bayer as global partners in Bangladesh and Indonesia are the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. In Bangladesh, the local partner is ACI. Indonesiaās local partners are Mercy Corps Indonesia, and the retailers CV Rahmawati and CV Gunung Subu.
In Bangladesh and Indonesia, BLFAās global partners will provide a unique range of products and services such as seeds, crop protection inputs, market linkages and financial solutions. The overall objective is to ensure smallholder farmers can increase crop yields and their farm incomes through sustainable agriculture.
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