Impact of Infrastructure and the Food Value Chain on the Livelihoods and Migration of Landless Households, Women and Girls in the Northwestern Region
Despite years of lagging growth, agriculture appears to be increasingly dynamic in Bangladesh, especially in the Northwest – the poorest region of the country. There have been significant changes in the rural economy, as seen through increasing non-farm activities, emerging land-use patterns, and links between farmers, the landless, women, and the private sector through changes in the food value chain and infrastructure investment. Although the emergence of agro-processing firms is one of the most important developments, there is no study on supermarkets and agro-processors in Bangladesh.
The main objective of this project is to analyze, with special emphasis on landless and women, the impacts, and implications for rural livelihoods and poverty of these (infrastructure and supply chain) changes. We will analyze what changes these developments imply for labor activities, migration, poverty reduction, and for the development of and connection with secondary and market towns, with special emphasis on women and the poor.