Feed the Future Bangladesh Rice and Diversified Crops (RDC) Activity FY2020 Quarter 3 Report

The RDC activity focuses on 38 interventions across the rice, maize, groundnut, mung-bean, lentil, sunflower, and sesame sectors, as well as cross-cutting crop protection, fertilizer, mechanization, and financial services. To achieve the target of 277,634 farmers accessing new technologies and improved practices, RDC supports firms to provide access to new technologies and improved practices for smallholder producers. This includes improved availability of seed, seed treatments, fertilizer, crop protection products, procurement mechanisms, mechanization, information and communications technology (ICT), and access to finance. Gender and nutrition-related activities are also underpinned by these approaches. As of the start of the year, RDC had 11 active interventions, which will be concluded in the 2020 financial year. Additionally, RDC signed 24 Fixed Amount Sub-Agreements (FAS) with private partners, of which four are under processing. These agreements are expected to support 230,000 farmers in accessing new technologies and lucrative markets. By the reporting quarter, an estimated 259,000 farmers had already received access to new inputs, markets, mechanization, and financial and information support. The RDC activity has also supplied 512.48 MT of improved seed varieties, including 359.34 MT of rice, 148.89 MT of maize, 2.1 MT of mung-bean, and 2.15 MT of sesame seeds. The estimated access outreach with this business volume is 168,000 farmers. Furthermore, 1,796.85 MT of grain was procured through new marketing channels, including 1,714.7 MT of rice, 82 MT of mustard, and 5 MT of groundnut. The estimated access outreach with this business volume is 806 farmers. Additionally, 188.90 MT of crop protection products were supplied, including 12.09 MT of inoculant, 115.48 MT of micronutrients, 42.55 MT of Ferterra, and 30 MT of crop protection products. The estimated access outreach with this business volume is 70,209 farmers. The RDC activity has also supported the procurement of 512.48 MT of improved seed varieties, 1,796.85 MT of grain, and 188.90 MT of crop protection products. The estimated business value of these procurements is US$1,600,285 and US$857,114, respectively. The RDC activity aims to support the scaling-up and expansion of successful interventions, with a focus on gender and nutrition-related activities.