Ghashful officials visited SMART project activities in Sapahar, Naogaon, on 29 October, focusing on field implementation, entrepreneur engagement and environmentally friendly production practices.
The visiting team included Maruful Karim Chowdhury, Deputy Director of Accounts and Finance; Wahid Jaber Chowdhury, Audit Manager; and Sirajul Islam, Programme Coordinator. They were accompanied by Md. Anwar Hossain, Zonal Manager of Ghashful’s Microfinance and Financial Inclusion Programme, and Project Officers Mohammad Jewel Rana and Mosabbir Ahmed. Local entrepreneur Md. Zakaria helped facilitate the field visit.
While Sapahar is renowned for mangoes, farmers are increasingly growing dragon fruit, strawberries, guava, malta and jujube. Ghashful works with these growers to promote safe fruit production, efficient resource use and opportunities to earn more through value addition.
Supported by PKSF and the World Bank, the SMART sub-project, “Promotion of Value-Added Fruit Products for Sustainable Growth and Instituting RECP Practices,” aims to support 1,000 fruit-producing microenterprises. It strengthens farmers’ and entrepreneurs’ capacities, promotes environmentally friendly cultivation and improves market competitiveness.
A central focus is Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP): reducing water and energy use, minimising waste, improving waste management and lowering health and environmental risks. Together with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and climate-resilient technologies, these measures promote more sustainable fruit farming.
The project also helps entrepreneurs explore opportunities beyond selling fresh fruit through processing, appropriate packaging and marketing. Training, technical advice, environmentally friendly technologies and market linkages support quality production, proper storage, understanding of market demand and stronger buyer confidence, creating opportunities for new products and higher incomes.