Bangladesh calls for social business fund to aid farmers, women
At the World Food Forum in Rome, Bangladesh seeks a new financing model linking entrepreneurship with inclusive rural growth
ROME/DHAKA (MNTV) — Bangladesh has called for the creation of a social business fund to help farmers, women, and young entrepreneurs drive inclusive growth across its rural economy.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus made the appeal during a meeting with International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) President Alvaro Lario on the sidelines of the World Food Forum in Rome on Sunday, according to the Chief Adviser’s Office.
Yunus — globally recognized for pioneering microfinance — said the proposed fund would merge entrepreneurship with social impact. “Such a fund would address social issues including healthcare for the poor and promote entrepreneurship among youth, farmers, women, and those in the fishing industry,” he said.
The discussion centered on climate-resilient agriculture, deep-sea fishing, fruit exports, and women-led dairy production. Yunus invited IFAD to send a delegation to Bangladesh to identify opportunities for collaboration in agriculture, technology, and social business.
IFAD, the UN’s rural development agency, currently finances agricultural projects in Bangladesh worth about $412 million. Since 1978, it has backed 37 initiatives totaling $4.26 billion, including $1.13 billion in direct funding.
Yunus underlined the need for investment in fruit processing, cold storage, and export logistics to expand Bangladesh’s trade in tropical produce such as mangoes and jackfruit. “China has expressed interest in importing large quantities of both,” he said.
Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter highlighted how women dairy farmers have started producing mozzarella cheese from buffalo milk and sought IFAD’s support to scale up the dairy value chain.
Yunus also urged international partners to back Bangladesh’s deep-sea fishing sector, noting that most fishermen still operate in shallow waters due to limited access to modern vessels and technology.
Lario welcomed the proposal, saying IFAD was committed to promoting social business models that link private innovation with rural inclusion.
As one of the Global South’s most influential voices on poverty reduction, Yunus framed the initiative as part of a broader effort to redefine how development finance works. His proposal, he said, reflects Bangladesh’s vision for a future where “every social challenge can be solved through enterprise, innovation, and dignity — not charity.”
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