A male farmer in Bangladesh cuts ripe bitter gourd fruit from the plant while a female farmer holds the fruit.

Our Work in Bangladesh

At a Glance

  • Over 45,000 farmers trained since 2020.
  • We currently train smallholder farmers on sustainable vegetable production techniques in the Barisal and Chittagong divisions and the Barind Tract.
  • We provide intensive, hands-on training in the field, with a focus on climate-smart technologies and empowering women through home gardens.
View Our 2024 Results
Three men inspecting a plant.

Current & Recent Projects

Two women farmers below hanging gourds.

Smart Farming, Healthy Food

Working with farmers to develop sustainable and climate-resilient vegetable-based cropping systems

Project Partners: Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) & Solidaridad

News & Stories

Bangladeshi farmer Monira Begum holds a green pumpkin while sitting underneath pumpkin vines at her farm.

Working with the Seasons and Soil: Monira’s Story

EWS-KT staff assists a farmer across a mulched bed in the Barind Tract.

New Project to Equip 17,500 Farmers with Climate-Smart Techniques

Bangladeshi farmer Abul Kalam and two other men with his rice field behind them and his vegetable field in front of them.

Farming Transformation in Bauphal Upazila

The 4-member EWS-KT Board of Trustees with staff and farmers.

Board of Trustees Arrives in Bangladesh

Omar Ali Tunu in his agro-input shop.

From Rice Farmer to Community Leader: Omar’s Story

Md. Babul beneath a row of bitter gourd.

Beyond the Harvest: Supporting the Farming Community

Bangladesh video thumbnail.

New Video, and a Look Back on the Last 5 Years

Farmer Asma Akter smiles as she shows off one of her growing pumpkins.

From Home Gardening to Commercial Aspirations: Asma’s Story

Farmer Md. Khalilur Rahman smiles as he holds the stem of a pumpkin growing on overhead vines.

Empowering Farmers in Bangladesh: Khalilur’s Story

Young male farmer stands in front of his demo plot and project signboards.

Midterm Report: Boosting Sustainable Farming in Bangladesh

A smiling male farmer cuts a bottle gourd from the vine while standing in the water channel between two sorjan raised beds.

Sorjan Farming: A Climate-Smart Approach in Coastal Bangladesh

EWS-KT board member Joan Boer with others at a replication plot.

Board Member Joan Boer Visits Operations in Bangladesh

Amena Begum sifts her harvested vermicompost over a blue tarp.

Vegetables and Vermicompost: Amena’s Story

WUR plant pathologist Peter Kromann and training-of-trainers participants inspect plants at the learning farm.

New Learning Farm in Bangladesh Hosts Training of Trainers

Crop show attendees look on while EWS-KT staff explain seedling production techniques.

Crop Show Provides Outreach Opportunity in Bangladesh

Md. Oliullah next to an insect sticky trap in his field.

More Vegetables, Lower Costs for Md. Oliullah

East-West Seed Bangladesh Country Manager Mostafa Kamal and EWS-KT Bangladesh Technical Manager Eamad Mustafa sit behind a table at the virtual launch of the Pesticide Selection Tool on 3 August 2023.

EWS-KT Launches Pesticide Selection Tool for Bangladesh’s Vegetable Farmers

Md. Mehadi Hasan holds a tray of seedlings near his shaded seedling house.

An Agricultural Entrepreneur in Bangladesh

EWS-KT Bangladesh Digital Media Coordinator Farhana Jesmin Momo kneels next to a model display while interacting with visitors at the EWS-KT exhibit booth.

First Bangladesh Seed Congress

Key farmer Taslima Akter and her husband, Ayub Ali, in their bitter gourd plot.

A Bitter Gourd Journey in Bangladesh

A large group of people stand around an upright weather station.

EWS-KT Launches Weather-Based Action Messages for Bangladesh’s Farmers

The Bangladesh Team in Action

Eamad Mustafa talking to farmer about benefits of mulching, pruning, high trellis, insecticide sprays_2

Talking with a farmer who is using the sorjan method

providing advice in agro-input dealer shop

Providing advice to farmers in an agro-input shop

working with a demo farmer Md. Habibur Rahman

Working with a farmer on his demo crop

EWS-KT staff and two women farmers holding large vegetables.

Celebrating a good harvest

discussing crop guide with farmers

Discussing crop guides with farmers

checking on seedling nursery

Checking on the progress of seedlings

Mosa at Nazirpur Union at Selina Begum's demo_2

Helping a farmer with her bitter gourd plot

1ea9850a-cb40-4b4c-b2a1-72b7eee2b927_2

Holding a training on vegetable production

Eamad Mustafa Discusses diseases with farmers_2

Educating farmers on plant diseases

bitter gourd training_2

Training farmers on bitter gourd cultivation

EWS-KT male staff member and female farmer inspect her vermicompost operation.

Inspecting a vermicompost operation

Watch Now

Empowering Women Farmers: Selina’s Inspiring Journey with EWS-KT Meet Selina, a resilient and determined woman farmer from Bauphal, Patuakhali, whose life has been transformed through the knowledge and support provided by East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer (EWS-KT). In this video, Selina shares how traditional farming methods once limited her productivity and income. After receiving hands-on training from EWS-KT, she adopted modern techniques such as: ✅ Raised bed preparation ✅ Mulching for weed control ✅ Proper spacing and pruning ✅ Use of trellis nets ✅ Transplanting healthy seedlings These simple yet powerful changes led to a five-fold increase in her income—from BDT 250,000 to BDT 500,000 annually! Her vegetable farming land expanded from 50 to 150 decimals, and she's now cultivating bottle gourd, sponge gourd, pumpkin, chili, okra, and cucumber. Became a source of inspiration for 30+ local farmers 👩‍🌾👨‍🌾 Her story is a testament to how empowering farmers with knowledge can uplift families and entire communities. Subscribe for more real-life stories of transformation through sustainable agriculture. Share this video to inspire more women and farmers to follow Selina’s path.
YouTube Video t3oJNFTUN_U

Farmer Adoption | Selina Begum | EWS-KT Bangladesh

Farming is more than just a livelihood — it’s a way of life for millions of smallholder farmers across Bangladesh. But the journey from seed to harvest is filled with challenges: unpredictable weather, pest outbreaks, poor soil, and limited access to markets and modern techniques. In regions like Faridpur, Patuakhali, Noakhali, and Bhola, farmers are determined to overcome these obstacles. That’s where East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer (EWS-KT) steps in. As a non-profit foundation linked to East-West Seed, EWS-KT empowers smallholder farmers with practical, hands-on training in sustainable farming techniques — from responsible pesticide use to climate-resilient practices like intercropping and composting. With the support of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and in partnership with Solidaridad and the Bangladesh Department of Agricultural Extension, we are making real change possible through the Smart Farming, Healthy Food Initiative. 👩‍🌾 Women are also taking part by establishing home gardens that boost family nutrition and provide extra income. 🌾 Through learning farms, digital tools, and community-based farmer leaders, we’re creating resilient value chains and stronger rural communities. 📱 Farmers stay connected and supported through mobile apps and social media. Meet farmers like Khalilur, who went from struggling to leading by example — turning his land into a demonstration plot and inspiring others to dream bigger. This is more than just farming. This is transformation. 🔔 Subscribe for more stories of innovation and empowerment from the field. 👍 Like, share, and comment to support the journey of smallholder farmers across Bangladesh. #FarmingForTheFuture #EWSKT #BangladeshAgriculture #SmartFarming #SmallholderFarmers #SustainableFarming #EastWestSeedKnowledgeTransfer #FarmerSuccess #HomeGardening #ClimateResilience
YouTube Video n6hvr3GVivk

From Struggle to Success: Empowering Farmers in Bangladesh | East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer

Subscribe

Reports & Resources

Click on the map to explore our farmer-managed demonstration plots

Partners

Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs logo
Netherlands Enterprise Agency logo
Solidaridad logo
Bangladesh Dept of Agricultural Extension logo
Partner with us to change the lives of smallholder farmers in Bangladesh
Contact us