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One of SRFSI’s most innovative engagements have been with farmer clubs, federations, and other social enterprises to support them as a key node for technology development and promotion This was especially effective given the large groups of direct beneficiaries linked and engaged with these firms and the social mission of these firms that promote the central idea of farmer empowerment.

– iDE, Bangladesh

About iDE:

In 1982, International Development Enterprises (iDE) was founded from the idea that business was the solution to poverty was new and untested. Even after thirty-four years, this concept has been proven not only by iDE but also by the increasing number of established and new organizations that have embraced this approach.

iDE creates income and livelihood opportunities for poor rural households. Following this mission, iDE has supported the SRFSI project by designing an accelerator program to make the enterprises like farmers’ clubs and federations in India and Bangladesh respectively, ‘investment ready’ and make them worthwhile investments for impact investment firms and other financial institutions beyond the life of the SRFSI project.

Driven by their values and beliefs, iDE values innovation and entrepreneurship. iDE strives for economic, social, and environmental equity and sustainability.

Key learnings and reflections:

  • SRFSI’s unique approach on the methodology towards investment readiness, propelled iDE to experiment with a tailor-made accelerator program to cater to the project’s requirements. As a result of this engagement, iDE Bangladesh developed an accelerator program that can be used as an in-house resource and customize it to other accelerator program needs.
  • Farmers are willing to invest in CASI machinery to help expand their businesses.
  • Women farmers have joined the conversation of business growth and expansion. They have begun to understand the dynamics of running a business and the importance of financial management. They are also more aware of capacity-building opportunities, as a result of SRFSI. Besides, they are socially being accepted as business leaders in communities and are very often the focal point for business transactions for machinery.

Future Actions:

  • The accelerator modules and the mentorship modules to be utilized by both federations and farmer-producing companies to train and develop the capacity of other farmers who are interested in investing in CASI machinery to increase business productivity.
  • Successful increase in business management practices and other entrepreneurial support organizations across the nation that can help to either create or replicate accelerator models in their own communities with the goal of having similar success.
  • Women will be more confident in running the businesses
  • Women farmers will be more comfortable in utilizing CASI machinery to help with their business productivity.
  • Women farmers will generate more revenue, after a capacity building session on financial management

Contact person:

Md. Nurul Amin, Deputy Country Director

+88.02.9678.333.777

+880.1711.404.295

namin@ideglobal.org

iDE Publications

… for more productive, profitable and resilient farming systems

The SRFSI project is a regional research for development collaboration of more than 30 partners, focused on the Eastern Gangetic Plains.