Initiative Trains 200,000 Farmers in Vegetable Growing
The four-year Transforming Vegetable Markets program targets smallholder producers in Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Uganda.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Vegetarian
The East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation has launched Transforming Vegetable Markets, a four-year initiative that will train more than 200,000 smallholder farmers in climate-resilient, sustainable vegetable production. The program will operate in Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Uganda.
Why it matters
The initiative aims to improve consumer access to affordable, nutritious vegetables while strengthening farmer incomes in regions where smallholders supply much of the local food supply. Its findings on value for money and scalability are intended to inform future agricultural investment and market development.
The program will train more than 200,000 smallholder farmers and expects about 75% of them to adopt improved techniques. Actual yield and income outcomes will be tracked over the four-year period and published on a public dashboard.
The players
East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation
A nonprofit organization focused on transferring vegetable seed and production knowledge to smallholder farmers, and the lead implementer of the initiative.
Wageningen Plant Research
The Netherlands-based plant research institute of Wageningen University and Research, a consortium partner in the initiative.
SeedNL
The Dutch seed industry association, a consortium partner in the initiative.
The details
Transforming Vegetable Markets provides direct training in climate-resilient and sustainable vegetable production. It is funded by the Netherlands Directorate-General for International Cooperation and implemented by a consortium led by the East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation with Wageningen Plant Research and SeedNL.
Timeline
The initiative was launched on November 5, 2026.
Implementation runs for four years from launch.
Industry Landscape
The initiative pairs Dutch plant research and seed-sector expertise with a training model for smallholder vegetable growers in Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Uganda. Its results will show whether direct farmer training can raise vegetable output and availability in these markets.
Shoppers in participating regions may eventually see more affordable and nutritious vegetables as farmer yields improve. The program's public dashboard will allow readers to follow reported adoption rates and income gains over the coming four years.
The takeaway
Direct training combined with public measurement of results offers a model for judging whether agricultural programs deliver real gains. Readers interested in vegetable supply can track the dashboard's reported outcomes over the next four years.
Further reading
Explore more Vegetarian coverage to see how vegetable supply and production shape everyday eating.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Horti Daily.
