AID-COMILLA implements a number of projects on Women Development through internet connectivity in Kurigram District with funding support from Christian Aid & Internet Society Foundation-USA.

Internet connectivity in Vegetable value chain is a way to move the vegetable product from producer to consumer. Current value chain involves several intermediaries in the process. As a result, their involvement and activities raised the vegetable cost at the end market. Consumers need to pay the excessive price and producer receive very low price from their production. Maximum margin goes to intermediaries, stock. Naturally, the producer and customer want to minimize the number of intermediaries, marketing step and their activities as much as possible. So that the farmer will earn more and consumer will pay less. The Internet Society Foundation funding consists   of   a   farmer,   farmer’s   collection   centre, regional/divisional wholesaler, retailer and consumer. Our main focus is to involve women farmers in their vegetable marketing. The project will establish 100 women farmer’s cooperative / groups will be established in each and every village under the project locations . The organization will organize, and manage by the women farmers. This farmers’ cooperative/ group will build a collection centre in their production area.  This collection  centre  will  also  be  managed  by  women farmers  themselves.  The functions of these cooperative/ women group  are the collection of member’s vegetables, contact with regional wholesaler and retailer, managing credit service, and managing information. The collection centre will involve in activities like the collection of market information, the collection of products, price determination, proper distribution, transportation, storage and other marketing activities. As the collection centre form by the women farmers themselves, it will help the women farmer to get the fair price. They can negotiate prices with wholesaler and retailer through the internet connectivity. This value chain will be more efficient if they sell their product to the retailer directly.  The  most  efficient  value  chain  will  be  established  if  farmers  collection  centre confirms their business directly with the retailer instead of the wholesaler. As a result, it will reduce the supply chain and supply chain cost. So that the farmer will get the fair and attractive price and consumer will get the product at a lower cost.

Key Activities:

• Identify and select Change Agents (CA) from project locations (100 women):
• E-commerce Training to CAs (100 women):
• Organize 2 day digital literacy and online business workshop for local businessman:
• Supporting/training to women to set-up horticultural enterprises (500 women):
• Innovation centers to help farmers identify technology and marketing options:
• Linking women to the internet and e-commerce:
• 1 day capacity building on financial management:
• Mobile Phone for Change Agent communication:
• Establishment of Wi-Fi hubs:
• Demo plot for horticultural cropping (traditional methods):
• Demo plot (hydroponic technology):
• Farmers field days to demo plots
• Group meetings and orientation on digital literacy/e-commerce:
• Learning – Sharing Festival:
• Women farmers visit to Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute for learning purpose:
• Student of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University to visit research area in third year, one batch of 100 students:
• Provide IGA support to change agents of groups to sustain /start their business : Project Closing ceremony: