Sustainable agriculture

Become a partner and promote sustainability.

Why is sustainable agriculture so important?

Because it’s far more than just food production. Sustainable agriculture secures livelihoods, protects ecosystems, and is a cornerstone in the fight against poverty and climate change. Especially in rural areas, resilient and environment-friendly agricultural solutions are needed to ensure economic stability and social equity. By investing in climate-smart and agroecological farming practices, reliable services, and knowledge exchange, we not only enable higher yields, but also strengthen the foundation for an agriculture resilient to future challenges. Swisscontact fosters the adoption of green practices and technologies, strengthens market connections, and focuses on capacity development of local actors.

A success story from Bangladesh

Market development for microinsurance

This project supports smallholder farms to boost their resilience. Through climate-sensitive microinsurance products, farmers’ vulnerability to climate hazards is reduced which positively affects food security and economic growth in Bangladesh.

Our approaches

Strengthening local capacities
By developing targeted training and advisory services with local partners, we promote practical knowledge and foster adaptive capacities of farmers and related service providers to improve productivity, efficiency and resilience of production.
Promoting sustainable practices and green technologies
We support the adoption of locally adapted sustainable practices and resource-efficient technologies that preserve ecosystems, address the climate crisis and make agriculture ready for current and future challenges.
Developing inclusive market systems
We work with the private sector, public authorities and the civil society to improve equitable access for smallholder farmers (including youth and women) to local and international markets – for fair prices and stable incomes.

"For many years we relied on income from selling fish and vegetables. It was hard to feed a family of four. We earned a little extra by growing rice and potatoes, but that was risky too: heavy rain, thick fog, drought, and storms could destroy the harvest. In 2021, I learned about crop insurance and signed up. I received weekly weather forecasts and free agricultural advice. In April 2022, I suffered major losses when my potato fields were damaged by a storm. Because I was insured, most of the damage was reimbursed. That gave me a sense of security. Gradually, I began investing in growing other crops."

– Tohura Khatun, Farmer from Bangladesh, Project Participant