The RED project aims to increase vegetable production and farmer incomes in Noakhali and Barishal regions of Bangladesh. The regions face issues like flooding, salinity, and poor irrigation that limit vegetable cultivation. Current vegetable yields and land coverage are lower than other regions. The project will provide training, demonstrations, and market linkages to improve access to quality seeds, irrigation, pest management, and introduce higher-yielding varieties. It aims to increase vegetable productivity and farmer incomes through expanding cultivation areas, reducing costs, and strengthening farmer groups and market access. Progress will be monitored based on numbers of farmers reached, area cultivated, yield increases, technologies adopted, market access, costs reduced, and incomes increased.

1. Sub sector: Vegetable
1. Situation:
The RED project area, both Noakhali and Barishal regions are characterized by submergence/water
logging, flood, cyclones, salinity and poor irrigation facilities and shorter winter period which are, in
general, unfavorable for horticultural growth. Most of the lands in both the regions are single cropped
or double-cropped. Most common crop is Aman during the rainy season and pulses, oils, til, horticulture
are cultivated during Rabi season and part of Kharip 1. Significant areas remain fallow in kharip 1 due to
salinity/moisture stress and in wet months due to submergence. Poor irrigation facility in Rabi season
also restricts many farmers from growing horticulture. Total cropped land under horticulture in RED
project area is only 6.98% and the average yield of vegetables in the region is only 1.6 MT/acre. Both
land coverage and yield of horticulture are less than many other regions in the country.
Table- 8: Yield gap between existing and recommendation practices:
Name of crop Average yield (ton/hac)
Farmer practice Recommended practice
Ladies finger 12 14
Bitter Gourd 15 25
Tomato 45 85
Cucumber 29 70-74
Country bean 3 5
(Source: Technical study report on crop production system and technology in the regions (Bar, Bho, Pat, Noa, Lax)
by identifying constraints and opportunities under MIDPCR, June 2008)
The main seasons of supply of horticultural products from local production in both the regions are late
Rabi and Partly Kharip 1, from mid January to mid May with a diminishing degree at both the ends. Rest
of the periods, products come from outside, mostly Jessore. Nevertheless, during its peak harvesting
season, it produces few crops which are in surplus in general and also in some pocket areas and
exported to other districts. Country beans, okra, water melon, banana from Noakhali region and chilli,
bitter gourd, cucumber, pumpkin, water melon etc. from Barishal region are some of the exporting
crops.
The horticulture subsector in the project area is beset by a number of constraints which leads to its
lower land coverage and yield. Apart from the natural setbacks such as submergence/water logging,
salinity, flood, cyclone there are also other factors such as land ownership pattern, poor irrigation
facility, poor knowledge of farmers on suitable cultivation techniques etc limit the horizontal growth of
the sub sector. The vertical growth is constrained by farmers’ poor knowledge on cultivation techniques,
inputs and their usage; poor access to working capital with convenient interest, unavailability of quality
inputs. Again, both horizontal and vertical growth are hindered or slowed down due to the cut in
farmers’ margin through the intrusion of so many intermediaries that fails the farmers to get
encouraged even more to foster the growth in both directions.
2. Objectives for working in the sub sector:

2. • Increase productivity
• Increase farmers’ income
• Improve quality seed and pheromone trap distribution channel
3. What has been done and impact so far:
The RED team identified the most commercial vegetable e.g. Tomato, Cucumber, Ladies finger, Bitter
gourd and Country bean in the project areas with specific locations. Understood what are the
opportunities and constraints for improving the market system of those crops. We share those
opportunities with seed companies, established seed seller and ensure supply of quality seed in the rural
hat/bazar. Facilitated joint demonstration with company and DAE in the village level and organize field
day for sharing the result. The team also organized collection point for aggregation of specific vegetable
and formed committee who act in favor of producer and negotiate with buyers. Strengthening farmer
associations for ensure technical services alone with inputs to the farmer.
The RED team facilitated the following activities with farmers and different level of vegetable value
chain actors. As a result, improve farmer access to input market, increase land productivity and income.
Activities # of events # of framer attended Outcome
Training of the farmers
3 48
Benefited farmer: 1463 (Gr. farmer -
391, Non gr. farmer- 1072
Linkage workshop with
producer, buyers, input seller
36 1088
Land coverage: 6644 decimal
Preseason planning workshop 24 585 Production increased: 4-5 kg/decimal
Facilitated demonstration
36 36
Decrease cost: 3-4 Tk/decimal due to
less use of urea
Informal meeting with
producers
45 1874
Increase product selling price: 1-2
Tk/kg
4. Future strategies for reaching the target beneficiaries (High importance)
The following target will set by the RED team for increase the income of the farmer from the vegetable
cultivation.
Target Land
coverage
Yield Cost
Farmer Upazila crops
5600 Noakhali: All upazillas
Bhola: Sadar & Charfasson
Barisal: Bakergonj & Mehedigonj
Patuakhali: Baufal, Dosmina, Kolapara
Tomato,
Cucumber,
Ladies finger,
Bitter gourd and
Country bean
447
hectors
increase
yield 4-5 kg
per decimal
reduce
production
cost 2-5
Tk/decimal
It is expected that each farmer will cultivate vegetable in 17 decimal land, and through the interventions
the additional income will Tk. 6180000 (Av income increase is TK 65/decimal/farmer/season, total land
coverage 385 hectors/ 95200 decimal, increase productivity 6 kg/dec and decreased cost Tk5/dec)

3. Specific activities to support the strategies:
• Provide direct assistance to the vegetable producers (skill training, marketing linkages,
demonstrations, market visit etc.)
• Expansion of input (hybrid and HYV seed, pheromone trap, MIT) distribution channel up to the
rural hat/bazaar by involving Lal Teer Seed Ltd. Syngenta, ACI Seed Ltd., Ispahani Seed Ltd. and
other private seed companies
• Strengthening farmer associations for providing business services to the farmer
• Facilitate collection point (aggregation of vegetable in the village level) for direct access to the
regional wholesalers, big buyers and feed manufactures for increase selling price at farm gate.
5. Scale up strategy (secondary importance)
• Seed Company will expand input distribution channel up to the rural hat/bazaar and established.
• Chain shop (Sopna, Mina bazaar), big buyer or company will buy from the farmer as contract
farming.
• Link farmer association with input companies and buyers
6. Constraints matrix:
Areas Constraints Interventions
Input
market
• Poor distribution channel of seed
companies restricts farmers from
getting quality hybrid and high yielding
seeds
• Lack of irrigation facilities restricts the
farmers from utilizing their land
resources more or increase production
cost or results in poor yield.
• Lack of awareness or not available of
low cost pest management technology
(Pheromone trap)
• Improve the availability of quality inputs
(HYV, hybrid seed & pheromone trap)
through strengthening supply chain of
inputs suppliers, retailers’ network by
effective services from input companies
• Dissemination of early and late variety
crops.
• Access to and use of low cost irrigation
equipment
• Access to and use of low cost pest
management technology
Farm
Production
• Lack of awareness about performance
of HYV and hybrid crops and early/late
verities crop and production technology
• Lack of knowledge of farmers about
pest management results in increased
production cost and or poor yield
• Lack of knowledge of farmer about
profitable crop cycle results in poor
utilization of land resource
• Improve dissemination of information
about proper cultivation technique to the
farmers by the seed sellers, especially the
hybrid ones.
• Improve dissemination of information
about low cost/effective pest
management to the farmers by the
pesticide retailers
• Improve knowledge of vegetable
producer about profitable crop cycle.
Output
market
• Lack of awareness about primary
processing activities (Grading and
cleaning)
• Lack of understating about harvesting
• Improve the dissemination of market
information by establishing linkage
among arotders, outside traders and
vegetable growers
• Improve harvesting techniques and

4. techniques and schedule
• Lack of access to higher level market
introduce packaging to reduce wastage
and to increase shelf life.
• Facilitate the formation of producer
groups to act collectively in purchasing
inputs and services and selling produces
in higher price.
Main Intervention areas: availability of Hybrid and HYV vegetable seed, late and early vegetable production, pest
management, post harvest technology, market linkage
7. Activity plan:
Activity Sub activity Total Year wise activity distribution Respon
sibilityYear 1 Year 2
Ba Bo Pa No Ba Bo Pa No
Primary focus:
1.Access to and
use of hybrid
and HYV seed
Organize training for developed business
skills of input seller for expansion of
identified potential crop with varieties
(hybrid, HYV, early/late, new varieties)
8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Organize training for developed technical
skills of input seller for provide support to
the veg producers (hybrid, HYV, early/late,
new varieties )
8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Organize linkage workshop among farmer,
CPMC/MMC and companies for established
input seller in rural hat bazar
14 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 1
2.Access to and
use of
irrigation and
pheromone
trap
technology
Organize training with manufacturer, dealer
and retailer for establishment of supply chain
8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Organize linkage workshop between farmers,
installer, and dealer and irrigation experts for
know the feasibility and demand
8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
3.Facilitated
improve crop
production
technology
Organize training for veg farmer on
commercial veg production and marketing
(C:B ratio analysis)
120 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15
Organize linkage workshop among veg
producer, input seller, DAE, NGO, input
companies, buyers
32 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Organize visit to the best farmer field 11 2 2 2 2 1 1 1
Organize linkage workshop between BARI,
DAE, Farmer on profitable crop cycle
4 1 1 1 1
Organize special training for the advance
farmer on cropping pattern
14 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 1
Demonstration for crop production practices
(cropping pattern)
23 3 4 3 3 2 3 3 2
Secondary
focus
4.Facilitate
Collection
center
Trained veg producer on harvesting
techniques, schedule and analysis benefit
8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Organize linkage workshop between veg
producers and market actors
16 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

5. Workshop for formation of collection point
with management committee
16 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Visit collection center and growth center 16 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Preseason planning meeting 80 10 10 12 12 8 8 10 10
Tertiary focus:
5.Facilitate
contact
farming
through
farmer
association
Trained veg producer and faria, bepari on
benefit of grading and cleaning
8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Visit consumer market at national and
regional level
16 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
8. Activity Budget:
Activity Cost/b
atch
Part/
batch
Y1 (Jan- Dec 2011) Y2 (Jan-Dec 2012) Total
batch
Total cost
batch T. part T. cost Batch T. part T. cost
Marketing training 23,000 20 90 1800 2,070,000 84 1720 1,932,000 174 4,002,000
Linkage workshop 4,575 25 50 1250 228,750 40 1000 183,000 90 411,750
Marketing visit 33,000 15 23 345 759,000 20 300 660,000 43 1,419,000
Demonstration & FFD 2,500 100 13 1300 32,500 10 1000 25,000 23 57,500
Preseason planning meeting 500 30 50 1500 25,000 30 900 15,000 80 40,000
Promotional activities 20,000 6 120,000 4 80,000 10 200,000
Impact study 25,000 1 25,000 1 25,000 2 50,000
Total 3,260,250 2,920,000 6,180,250
9. Monitoring Indicators:
• # of farmers directly involved with project
• Area under improved cultivation
• Increase productivity
• Name of the improve/new technology and # of participants using those technologies
• Enter in to the new markets
• Reduced cost (production, postharvest losses, carrying cost etc)
• Increase product selling prices
• Increase income

6. Workshop for formation of collection point
with management committee
16 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Visit collection center and growth center 16 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Preseason planning meeting 80 10 10 12 12 8 8 10 10
Tertiary focus:
5.Facilitate
contact
farming
through
farmer
association
Trained veg producer and faria, bepari on
benefit of grading and cleaning
8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Visit consumer market at national and
regional level
16 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
8. Activity Budget:
Activity Cost/b
atch
Part/
batch
Y1 (Jan- Dec 2011) Y2 (Jan-Dec 2012) Total
batch
Total cost
batch T. part T. cost Batch T. part T. cost
Marketing training 23,000 20 90 1800 2,070,000 84 1720 1,932,000 174 4,002,000
Linkage workshop 4,575 25 50 1250 228,750 40 1000 183,000 90 411,750
Marketing visit 33,000 15 23 345 759,000 20 300 660,000 43 1,419,000
Demonstration & FFD 2,500 100 13 1300 32,500 10 1000 25,000 23 57,500
Preseason planning meeting 500 30 50 1500 25,000 30 900 15,000 80 40,000
Promotional activities 20,000 6 120,000 4 80,000 10 200,000
Impact study 25,000 1 25,000 1 25,000 2 50,000
Total 3,260,250 2,920,000 6,180,250
9. Monitoring Indicators:
• # of farmers directly involved with project
• Area under improved cultivation
• Increase productivity
• Name of the improve/new technology and # of participants using those technologies
• Enter in to the new markets
• Reduced cost (production, postharvest losses, carrying cost etc)
• Increase product selling prices
• Increase income