May 2023
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May 25, 2023

IFAD Implementation Support Mission evaluated RMTP as satisfactory

An Implementation Support Mission (ISM) of IFAD expressed its satisfaction over the progress of the Rural Microenterprise Transformation Project (RMTP). The ISM was conducted from 7 May to 18 May 2023.

The kick-off meeting of the mission was held on 8 May 2023, chaired by Dr Akand Md Rafiqul Islam, Senior General Manager of PKSF and Project Coordinator of the RMTP project. During the meeting, the PMU of the RMTP gave a detailed presentation on the project. Additionally, the ISM team visited various value chain and microenterprise activities in Barishal and Patuakhali districts from 9 to 11 May 2023. They thoroughly reviewed the progress of different value chain interventions and assessed cross-cutting activities including gender, environmental sustainability, nutrition, and the overall sustainability of the value chain interventions under the project.

The ISM team expressed satisfaction over the field interventions and the utilization of various technologies in the value chain interventions. The team also provided the necessary recommendations.

The wrap-up meeting of the mission was held on 18 May 2023 at PKSF Bhaban, chaired by Md Fazlul Kader, Additional Managing Director of PKSF. PKSF’s Senior GM and PC of RMTP Dr Akand Md Rafiqul Islam and IFAD’s Country Director for Bangladesh Dr Arnoud Hameleers, and other officials from IFAD and RMTP also attended the meeting.

Mission Leader Dewan A H Alamgir shared the findings and recommendations of the mission. He highly lauded the successful interventions of the project including semi-intensive fish culture, the use of IoT in fish farming, black soldier fly for alternative fish feed, vermicompost production, and the development of different processed products in the dairy, meat, and fish sectors. Moreover, the mission emphasized the importance of proper documentation of the project’s successes and the timely implementation of all cross-cutting issues.

Md Fazlul Kader, AMD of PKSF congratulated the PMU for the overall achievements of the RMTP project and emphasized the documentation of the best practices of the project.

By Ehsanul Habib
Stories
May 7, 2023

Married at 14, then divorced; Reshma earns BDT 40 lakh a year

Suraiya Farhana Reshma of Shajahanpur in Bogura district got married at the age of 14. She was eighth grader back then. Her marriage was not a happy one. Her husband was a drug addict and gambler. After living with him for four years, Reshma returned to her mother and started agricultural ventures on land inherited from her mother and grandmother. Upon completing a training in 2014, she started dealing in vermicompost. She said, “I couldn’t maintain records of my transactions. The officials of the Department of Youth Development and GUK (a local NGO) taught me how to keep books.”

Currently, there are 200 concrete rings used for processing earthworms, a key ingredient of vermicompost, at her farm. There are another 200 fruit baskets she uses for this. In addition, she received a fresh grant from the RMTP (Rural Microenterprise Transformation) project funded by PKSF and IFAD for purchasing necessary machines and started making trico-compost.

Currently, she is producing about 30 tonnes of vermicompost every month. This fertilizer is sold wholesale at BDT 10 per kg from home and at BDT 15 per kg online via her facebook page named Reshma Krishi Udyog. There are 25 cows in her farm. Six cows give 35 kg of milk per day. She sells milk at BDT 50 per kg. There are 15 goats, 120 ducks, and more than 200 native chickens, pigeons in her farm where she also farms fish and cultivates paddy and safe vegetables. The total amount of her land including the house is six bighas (about 2 acres).

Reshma net profit per annum stands at around BDT 40 lakhs, excluding all expenses. Her current capital is over BDT 1 crore. Reshma has provided employment to 16 women at her farm. She has inspired about two dozen women around to become entrepreneurs, creating self-employment opportunities. Reshma received the ‘National Youth Award-2022’ from the Department of Youth Development, Ministry of Youth and Sports in recognition of her achievements.

By Ehsanul Habib