16/07/2026
Mini Biz Challenge – Series 5 (Final case of Phase 1)
Case:
A rural agricultural cooperative is struggling to help smallholder farmers increase their income, despite having access to quality seeds, training programs, and local collection points.
Many farmers continue to face challenges such as:
* Limited access to accurate weather and crop advisory information
* Dependence on middlemen, leading to lower selling prices
* Poor knowledge of post-harvest handling and storage
* Difficulty adopting modern farming techniques due to lack of confidence or practical guidance
As a result:
* Crop losses remain high after harvest
* Farmers receive lower profits than market value
* Productivity improvements are inconsistent across communities
At the same time, most farmers own or have access to mobile phones, local farmer groups regularly meet, and experienced lead farmers are respected within their communities.
The cooperative wants to improve farmer productivity and income while encouraging the adoption of better agricultural practices—without making major investments in new infrastructure.
They have allocated a budget of ৳2,50,000 to test one solution over the next 3 months.
⚪ What Already Exists:
a) Local farmer groups and cooperatives
b) Agricultural extension officers
c) Collection centers for produce
d) Mobile phone access for most farming households
e) Demonstration plots and seasonal training sessions
⚪ SDG Focus:
SDG 2 – Zero Hunger**
SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth**
⚪Goal:
Increase the adoption of improved farming practices by **40%** and improve average farmer income through better productivity and market participation.
⚪ Task:
Suggest **one clear change** the cooperative should introduce.
⚪ Explain:
1. What exactly you would implement
2. How it would improve farmer productivity and income
3. Why this solution would be sustainable without requiring significant infrastructure investment
Your solution should focus on **farmer engagement, knowledge sharing, and practical adoption**—not simply providing more subsidies, machinery, or financial aid.
⚪ The Best Solutions Will Be:
✔️ Selected
✔️ Turned into short summary insights
✔️ Recognized with company gifts & features
📢 This is the final case of Phase 1.
After this challenge, submissions from all 5 cases will be evaluated, and Phase 1 winners will receive their prizes and recognition. 🏆