Woman Entrepreneur Championing Nutrition in Rural Bangladesh

Women entrepreneurs championing nutrition in rural Bangladesh.

In the rural district of Lalmonirhat in northern Bangladesh, agriculture is survival. Yet for many years, women rarely occupied visible roles in agricultural business, especially in the highly competitive seed sector. It was considered a space dominated by men, shaped by tradition, limited opportunities, and social expectations.

But Asmaul Husna refused to accept those limitations. In 2016, after earning a postgraduate degree, Husna established a small seed enterprise called Sonar Tori Seeds. Equipped with a license from Bangladesh’s Seed Certification Agency, she began selling conventional rice varieties to local farmers. While her vision was ambitious, the reality was difficult. Access to quality breeder seed was limited, technical knowledge on seed production was scarce, and market opportunities for a woman entrepreneur in rural Bangladesh were even harder to find.

“People were surprised to see a woman running a seed business,” Husna recalls. “But I wanted to prove that women can also succeed in agriculture.”

Despite her determination, the business remained small. Her operations were confined mainly to Lalmonirhat and neighboring communities, distributing around 60 metric tons of seed annually through a network of about 35 retailers. Like many rural entrepreneurs, she faced the challenge of growing a business without the technical capacity, financial strength, or market linkages needed to compete.

That changed in 2023 when Husna interacted with HarvestPlus Solutions under the “Enhancing Nutrients in Food Systems (ENFS)”, a HarvestPlus-funded Project, supported by the Government of Canada. Through the project, Husna received intensive technical and business development support focused on the production and commercialization of zinc biofortified rice seed—rice varieties bred to contain higher levels of zinc, an essential micronutrient that helps combat hidden hunger and malnutrition.

The support went far beyond simply providing seed. HarvestPlus Solutions equipped her with practical skills through quality seed production training, technical guidance on cultivating zinc biofortified rice, access to early generation seed, and assistance with seed processing, packaging, and branding. The project also connected her to information on newly released biofortified varieties and strengthened her business networks with dealers, retailers, and farming communities.

With this support, Husna introduced zinc biofortified rice varieties such as BRRI dhan74, later expanding to BRRI dhan100 and BRRI dhan102 under her Sonar Tori Seeds brand.

The transformation was remarkable. Within three years, her business grew from a small local operation into a recognized regional supplier of nutritious seed. Last year alone, she sold more than 200 metric tons of zinc biofortified rice seed—more than tripling her previous scale of operations. Her dealer and retailer network expanded from 35 to nearly 80 across Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Kurigram, and Nilphamari districts.

But the impact extended far beyond business growth.

Husna now works with approximately 10 contract seed growers, creating new livelihood opportunities for farming households in surrounding communities. Farmers who once struggled to access quality nutritious seed can now obtain zinc biofortified rice varieties more easily through local channels. Her growing enterprise has also generated employment through seed processing, storage, and distribution activities.

At the household level, the increase in income has strengthened her family’s economic security and allowed her to reinvest in the business. Inspired by her success, she has diversified into hybrid maize seed marketing, further expanding opportunities for local farmers.

Most importantly, Husna’s journey is changing perceptions within her community.

In a region where women’s participation in agricultural entrepreneurship remains limited, her success serves as an example of resilience, leadership, and the role women can play in strengthening food systems and improving nutrition outcomes.

“HarvestPlus Solutions has helped us a lot,” she says. “Their contribution to the growth of our business has been immense. I want to continue expanding my seed business and involve more farmers in quality zinc rice seed production in the future.”

Today, every bag of seed distributed through Sonar Tori Seeds represents more than a business transaction. It represents improved access to nutritious crops, stronger local seed systems, and greater opportunity for rural communities. - Harvest Plus