Agricultural Entrepreneurship Training: UCB’s Effort to Support Farmers and Agriculture

United Commercial Bank PLC (UCB) is taking a major step in supporting the agricultural sector by organizing an Agricultural Entrepreneurship Training program at Sandwip. The initiative aims to provide support to the agriculture sector as part of the social responsibility of UCB, in accordance with the directive of Bangladesh Bank.

The training program, initiated under the banner of ‘Voroshar Notun Janala’, intends to train a total of 15,000 agricultural entrepreneurs from approximately 500 Upazilas across the country. Additionally, 50 Upazilas will be developed as ‘model areas’ to promote agricultural prosperity through the provision of modern machinery support to agricultural entrepreneurs.

The training program held at the Sandwip Upazila Auditorium saw more than 65 selected agricultural entrepreneurs in attendance. The opening ceremony was graced by the presence of Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Mr. Samrat Khisa, who commended the efforts of UCB in supporting entrepreneurs in remote areas like Sandwip. He emphasized the need for private institutions to collaborate with the government for the welfare of farmers and agriculture, ultimately contributing to the accelerated development of the country.

Rezaul Karim Siddique, presenter of Bangladesh Television’s Mati O Manhu program and agricultural information analyst, stressed the importance of developing farmers as entrepreneurs. He highlighted the necessity for entrepreneurship in the commercial agriculture sector and expressed optimism that the ‘Voroshar Notun Janala’ project would help instil confidence in marginal farmers.

The training session featured discussions by resource persons Ahamadul Haque, Mrinal Kanti Joarder, Umasha Umayun Moni Choudhury, and Chiraranjan Sarker on various aspects including marketing, managerial skills, banking, and financials relevant to agricultural enterprises. The resource persons also addressed the queries of the entrepreneurs, providing valuable insights to enhance their understanding of the industry.

Dr. Ahmed Khairul Hasan from the Department of Agronomy Faculty of Agriculture at Bangladesh Agriculture University, and Mohsinur Rahman, Head of the SME Banking Department of UCB, were among the prominent speakers at the event. Their contributions added depth and insight to the discussions, further enriching the training program.

The collaborative effort of UCB and the insightful contributions during the training session underscore a significant step towards empowering agricultural entrepreneurs and fostering the growth of the agricultural sector in Bangladesh. It is initiatives such as these that hold the potential to drive sustainable development and prosperity in the country.