Moziball Hoque: Building climate-smart agriculture and inclusive value chain

Mohammad Moziball Hoque, Programme Lead and Head of Supply Chain & Private Sector Engagement at Solidaridad Network Asia, has emerged as one of the country's most influential voices in sustainable agriculture and value chain development.

An agronomist by training, Hoque is widely respected as a supply chain specialist, commodity expert, climate resilience advocate, and philanthropist. Over the past two decades, his work has shaped agricultural policy, empowered millions of farmers, and promoted climate-smart practices across Bangladesh.

A graduate of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University and Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Hoque has authored numerous publications and delivered keynote papers on climate resilience, market systems, and women's entrepreneurship in agriculture. He serves as a member of the Studies Committee at Haji Danesh Agricultural University and is a lifetime member of the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh, Ecological Society of Bangladesh, and Asia Productivity Organization.

Hoque began his professional journey in 2003 with UNDP projects. Since then, he has attended more than 100 national and international workshops, conferences, and training programs, and has represented Bangladesh in global forums across Asia, Europe, and Africa.

At the heart of his career lies a strong belief: sustainable agriculture is key to food security, economic growth, and resilience.

Transforming agricultural value chains: In a country where agriculture remains the backbone of the economy, Hoque has dedicated his career to making value chains more efficient, inclusive, and climate-resilient. His initiatives have connected farmers directly to markets, boosted productivity, and reduced post-harvest losses.

Over 22 years, he has helped and supported millions of farmers to transform subsistence to enterprise agriculture and engage them with local, national and international market networks. These networks have enabled better bargaining power, higher incomes, and stronger access to both domestic and export markets.

His innovative contract farming model, now adopted by the government, increased fruit and vegetable exports by 25 per cent. Thanks to these efforts, Bangladesh's agricultural exports rose from $500 million to $1.6 billion in recent years. He also played a leading role in spearheading the National Action Plan for Mango, Bangla GAP, and export control systems.

Pioneering climate-smart practices: Hoque has championed regenerative and climate-smart farming, with adoption rates reaching 85 per cent among participating farmers. He has also promoted oilseed crops such as Bari-4 soybean, BU-2 Soybean, and Bina-4, 5 soybean to reduce dependence on imported edible oils.

Through Solidaridad's "Pathway to Prosperity" program, he has addressed challenges faced by smallholders, from high input costs to access to finance. His promotion of ROSCA (Rotating Savings and Credit Associations) has provided farmer groups with an alternative to high-interest loans.

Currently, he leads the Green Dairy Partnership Project, funded by Denmark's foreign ministry. This flagship initiative aims to cut carbon emissions in Bangladesh's dairy sector by 30 per cent -- a first for the country.

Building inclusive growth: Gender equality is another cornerstone of Hoque's work. Nearly 65 per cent of his programme participants are women, who have gained financial independence and strengthened their communities.

He has also advanced cold chain infrastructure and modern agribusiness hubs, helping farmers reduce losses and improve food safety standards. By working with government, NGOs, and private partners, he has worked with 120 aggregation points, two market hubs, five cooperatives, and 40 export clusters.

Beyond project leadership, Hoque is a familiar face on national television, regularly sharing insights on agricultural markets and food security on Independent TV, Channel 24, NTV, Shomoy TV, Dipto TV and other networks.

Vision for the future: From managing superstore supply chains to shaping national agricultural policy, Hoque's journey reflects a firm commitment to inclusive growth and environmental sustainability. His work has supported millions of smallholders and created models now replicated nationwide.

"My vision extends far beyond individual success," he says. "It is about community progress and a sustainable future for Bangladesh's agriculture."

Through his leadership, Mohammad Moziball Hoque has set a benchmark for innovation, inclusiveness, and resilience -- offering a blueprint for how Bangladesh's agriculture can thrive in the face of climate change and global competition.