Request for Applications (RFA): for Feed the Future Bangladesh Rice and Diversified Crops (RDC) Activity The USAID/Bangladesh Feed the Future (FtF) Rice and Diversified Crops (RDC) activity is designed to catalyse market system changes that promote a diversified farm management approach oriented to intensified rice production and higher-value, nutrient-rich crops to increase incomes and improve food security and nutrition in the Khulna, Barisal, and southern districts of Dhaka divisions of Bangladesh (FtF zone). RDC’s goal is to increase rural incomes by catalysing a process that leads to competitive and inclusive rice-based market systems. RDC aims to facilitate strategic, market system-strengthening interventions to improve rice intensification and diversification. Rice security is synonymous with food security in Bangladesh. Since independence, there has been a three-fold increase in polished rice production in Bangladesh, which jumped from nearly 11 million MT in 1971-72 to about 34.86 million MT in 2014-15 (AIS, 2016). More food will however be required in future because of increasing population. Decreasing resources (reduced land area, labour, soil health and water), and increasing climate vulnerability (drought, salinity, flood, heat and cold) are some of the challenges to matching food production with a growing demand driven by increasing population (Expected to increase from current levels of 160 Million to 220 Million by 2050) However, significant scope exists in improving rice grain yield and profitability by adopting more productive varieties and hybrids, particularly for areas with abiotic stresses such as salinity and submergence, better production technology including mechanization and higher value rice types such as fine grain and aromatic rice. The Feed the Future Bangladesh Rice and Diversified Crops (RDC) seeks applicants to submit innovative proposals for increasing rice production through productivity increases in southern Bangladesh. To do this it is considered that rice value chain actors (rice milling companies, input companies, Agri Machinery companies, contract growers, traders, Banks, etc) should design innovative “rice procurement and sales” business model that benefits all actors and yet is profitable enough for the farmer to increase production. The Applications should be submitted via email at info@acdivocardc.org clearly stating the “Application in response to RFA # 10-2018- Rice procurement and sales” in the subject line of email no later than 30th November 2018. The applicants can find an application for funding form at the following link.
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