Smart agriculture has the potential to feed families and empower communities.
Smallholder farmers grow about 80% of the food consumed in Asia and Africa. But these farmers, who are on the frontlines of climate change and economic shocks, often experience extreme poverty and hunger. BRAC’s agriculture programmes help farmers adapt to climate change, link to markets, and boost their incomes.
Our Impact
countries reached with agriculture programmes
Liberian farmers trained in climate-smart agriculture
of farmers served are women and adolescent girls
farmers trained since 2012
BRAC’s agriculture programmes elevate farmers and their families out of hunger and malnutrition into secure, sustainable livelihoods.
With decades of experience strengthening livelihoods and reducing poverty in rural communities, BRAC understands the challenges farmers face and recognises their huge untapped potential. Its agriculture programmes tackle these challenges holistically by strengthening livelihoods, linking market systems, improving nutrition, and building resilience to climate change.
Our approach
Training and support
BRAC’s agriculture programmes train farmers in climate-smart agriculture and raising poultry and livestock and equip them with inputs like seeds, tools, poultry, livestock, and feed to jumpstart their businesses. BRAC also recruits and trains local leaders to serve as community promoters who provide onsite support and advice to farmers, help them resolve challenges, and sell goods such as animal feed, medication, seeds, and fertiliser.
Training and support
Strengthening markets
BRAC complements its training and support for farmers by strengthening rural value chains, connecting farmers to markets, and investing in local agriculture businesses. BRAC runs social enterprises, including seed farms, poultry hatcheries, and feed mills, creating a market of affordable, quality inputs for farmers. BRAC also fills gaps in local value chains by connecting farmers to markets where they can sell their products profitably. For example, in Bangladesh, BRAC’s dairy enterprise purchases milk from local dairy farmers at a fair price, linking them to sustainable sources of income. BRAC also invests in local micro-entrepreneurs who sell important agricultural resources like feed, seed, and tools, training them in business skills and equipping them with more inventory to grow their businesses.
Strengthening markets
Nutrition and food security
In Liberia, where increasing prevalence of child malnutrition affects the poorest communities, BRAC engages pregnant women and young mothers in nutrition forums and awareness campaigns, educating them about the importance of breastfeeding, child nutrition, hygiene, and food safety to promote healthy families and communities.
Nutrition and food security
Research and innovation
BRAC collaborates with agriculture research groups and governments to help research and develop improved crop varieties that are higher quality, have better nutritional value, and can survive in challenging conditions amid climate change.
Research and innovation
Defeating hunger does not depend only on the science of food production. It requires us to address the problem of powerlessness among the poor.”
Where we work
Bangladesh
BRAC was founded in Bangladesh in 1972 and remains headquartered in Dhaka today. Our first and largest country of operation, BRAC runs a comprehensive suite of programmes in nearly every corner of the country.
Bangladesh
Liberia
More than half of Liberia’s population lives below the poverty line, the largest proportion of any country where BRAC works. We launched operations in Liberia in 2008 with a goal of tackling the challenge holistically.
Liberia
Myanmar
BRAC launched programs in Myanmar in 2013. With nearly 70% of Myanmar’s population unbanked, our work emphasizes providing vulnerable communities with financial services.
Myanmar
Sierra Leone
BRAC began its work in Sierra Leone in 2008. In a context with high rates of poverty and unemployment, particularly among youth, BRAC’s holistic portfolio of programmes work to support communities to lift themselves out of poverty.
Sierra Leone
South Sudan
Since 2006, BRAC has supported families in South Sudan with a variety of programmes. During a period of conflict and political turmoil, BRAC is committed to ensuring communities have services and support they need to build resilience.
South Sudan
Tanzania
Tanzania is one of Africa’s fastest growing economies, but widespread poverty still persists. BRAC launched its first financial inclusion programmes in Tanzania in 2006, and has since expanded its work across a variety of programmes to address poverty holistically.
Tanzania
Uganda
BRAC expanded to Uganda in 2006, and the country has quickly become home to our largest operation outside of Bangladesh. In a country with one of the youngest populations in the world, BRAC’s work across sectors emphasises reaching young people.
Uganda
Programme Highlights
A farmer’s journey to save his family from hunger
Before the second civil war erupted in Liberia, Roland had a thriving farm that enabled him to support his family. But years of conflict severely damaged the country’s agriculture sector, and Roland lost everything. Today, Roland is charting a pathway to a better life for his family.
Our work in action
Mary's magic potatoes
With one of the highest rates of malnutrition in the world, Uganda needs solutions like healthy, affordable food. Enter the orange-fleshed sweet potato, fortified with Vitamin A to reduce micronutrient deficiencies in children. BRAC is helping local farmers cultivate the potatoes and educating mothers about their health benefits.
Related Research
BRAC International rapid food and income security assessment
A series of rapid food and income security assessments conducted by BRAC across ten countries in Asia and Africa reveal that food and income security continues to decline amid COVID-19, particularly for low-income groups.
Agricultural extension, intra-household allocation, and malaria
Can agricultural development programmes improve health-related outcomes? An evaluation of BRAC’s agriculture programme in Uganda finds that participants’ families were less likely to contract malaria, with children and pregnant women experiencing substantial improvements, due to an increase in income and the resulting increase in the use of bednets.
Moral Hazard: Experimental evidence from tenancy contracts
Agricultural productivity tends to be low in developing countries, and rules on sharing yields with landowners are seen as an important driver. An evaluation of a BRAC agriculture programme in Uganda revealed that farmers who were able to keep a higher share of their output produced a higher yield of crops.
