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January 22, 2024

Commercial Production of Packaged Milk Begins in Barishal

Mirza Ifte Khairul Hossain is a prosperous dairy entrepreneur who initiated his business on January 1, 2020, by producing 5 kg of milk on his own farm. Initially, he sold milk in plastic bottles to various grocery stores. However, due to poor packaging quality, and lack of marketing techniques, he experienced insufficient client response. In 2022, Mirza Ifte Khairul Hossain was selected as a participant in the Rural Microenterprise Transformation Project (RMTP) of PKSF. Then he received training under the RMTP on the production, packaging, marketing and branding of safe milk products. He also received a grant from the project to establish a modern chilling plant and packaging machine. Subsequently, the RMTP project made a linkage with contract farmers to increase the production of packaged milk.

Mirza Ifte Khairul has successfully transitioned his business to selling packaged milk by leveraging modern chilling plants and milk packaging machines. In addition, he has developed his own company ‘Mirza Corporation’. In Barishal city, his company now manufactures and sells 450 liters of packaged milk every day, with 150 liters from his own farm and the rest 300 liters from 35 contracted farms.

Besides, he uses ICT technology to keep updated business records and digital payment methods. He has also secured a BSTI license, a trade license from the City Corporation of Barishal, and a health and hygiene license from the Civil Surgeon’s office to ensure the smooth operation of his business.

At present, Mirza Ifte earns BDT 1,08,000 per month by selling milk. He dreams of establishing the ‘Mirza Agro Farm’ brand and selling milk throughout the country. He has also planned to produce ghee, sweets, and curd in his product line.

By Ehsanul Habib
Stories
January 22, 2024

Kawsar’s Remarkable Journey of Transformation

Kawsar, a 32-year-old, grew up in a disadvantaged family as the youngest of four siblings. His journey began with selling vegetables alongside his father during his childhood. In 2008, he launched a mobile shop specializing in crab sales on Kuakata Beach, using 400 takas as capital. During this time, he successfully generated a daily income of 600 taka by selling 2 kg of crab fry. In 2010 he expanded his business by opening a small-scale establishment, offering lobster, crab, hilsa fry, and even a coffee shop. In 2014, recognizing the growing demand for fish and crab fry, he took a step by launching ‘Kaosar Bhai’s Fish Fry,’ restaurant. At the peak of this venture, he was selling approximately 150 kg of fish and 100 kg of crab every month. Mr. Kawsar collected and preserved fish by using traditional methods. He had to decline his customer base due to serving unhealthy food and not maintaining hygiene properly.  

In 2022, he was included as a member of the value chain sub-project titled ‘Production and Marketing of Safe Fishery Products,’ which is implemented by CODEC, a partner organization of PKSF, as part of the Rural Microenterprise Transformation Project (RMTP). The project provided him with training on maintaining hygiene and producing diversified products, such as (fish burgers, fish balls, fish chips etc). Additionally, a modern table fridge is also supported to him. The project supported him with BDT 100,000 (one lakh) grants and extended a loan of BDT 100,000 (one Lakh) to expand his business.

This is the inception of his smart venture. Currently, there are six skilled employees in his company. The customer base gradually increasing because of the skilled employees, who are dedicated to preparing food by maintaining proper hygiene and serving food by using cold-pressed sunflower oil to meet customer demands. Furthermore, he has provided comfortable seating options with tables, chairs, and benches for customers to enhance both the aesthetics of the shop and the longevity of the food, he also utilizes glass enclosures for food display.

Currently, he collected a variety of fish from rivers and seas, including (Vetki, Hilsa, Lobster, Roopchanda, Tuna, Red Coral, Lakshya, Vole Coral, Shurma, Rupsa, Octopus, Squid, Crab, Red and White Sniper, Salmon etc), he prepares these fish by frying or barbecuing them, and then sells and delivers them to hotels. In addition to direct sales, he also sells various types of river and sea fish prepared as fried and barbecued dishes through platforms like Facebook, IMO, and mobile calls. Every month, he sells approximately 750 kg of fish and 300 kg of crab, with a total of around BDT 60,000 (six lakhs). Excluding all expenses, his net profit amounts to 2 lakh takas.

Kawsar’s dream is to create a brand known as “Kawsar Bhai’s Fish Fry Ghar,” with a mission to provide consumers with safe, ready-to-eat fish products delivered directly to their homes. By seeing the success of Mr. Kawser, several fish fry shops hygienically serve food along with lucrative decoration. Local government officials and local administrations lauded Mr Kawsar’s innovative initiative and urged everyone to promote his novel concept at Kuakata Beach.

By Ehsanul Habib
Stories
November 30, 2023

UNiTE! Invest to Prevent Violence against Women and Girls: Reshma’s Inspiring Journey

“At the age of 14, while studying in  grade eighth, I was forced to marry an unknown person. My dreams came to a halt. After the marriage, my days began with a brutal reality. My husband was addicted to drugs and gambling, and he forcefully physically assaulted me. Enduring this situation for four years, I finally returned to my mother,” shares Reshma, a 35-year-old woman living in the northern part of Bangladesh.

She expresses, “Everybody in my village treats me negatively because I divorced my husband, and they label me as a bad girl. In this society, aside from one’s father or husband, girls are not granted any other recognition.”

Like Reshma, the global situation concerning violence against women and girls is alarming. According to the report on “Global and regional estimates of violence against women: prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and nonpartner sexual violence” by the World Health Organization (WHO), the following areas have been identified.

Similar to the global context, the issue of violence against women and girls is prevalent in Bangladesh. In response, the government and various development entities are collaboratively working to address this concern. Notably, in 2020, with the support of the Bangladesh Government, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF), and DANIDA, initiated a six-year project named the Rural Microenterprise Transformation Project (RMTP). This project aims to enhance the income, food security, and nutrition of marginal and small-scale farmers, as well as micro-entrepreneurs, across selected value chains throughout the country.

Reshma’s journey commenced with meticulous planning and unwavering determination. Initially involved in agriculture and trained in vermicompost production by the Department of Youth Development, Reshma faced challenges in expanding her agricultural business and vermicompost production. Fortunately, in 2022, Reshma became a participant of RMTP through the implementing partner Gono Unnoyan Karma (GUK). This pivotal step allowed her to expand her vermicompost production using the latest technology. Moreover, the project played a crucial role in assisting Reshma to acquire an Earthworm-Vermicompost rolling separator machine. 

This initiative not only reduced labor costs but also maximized profits, contributing to the overall enhancement of her vermicompost plant.

Currently, Reshma produces approximately 30 tonnes of vermicompost monthly, selling it at a wholesale price of Tk 10 per kilogram from her residence and Tk 15 per kilogram on online platforms. Her farm includes 25 cows, 6 cows producing 35 kilograms of milk daily, sold at Tk 50 per kilogram. Additionally, she owns 15 goats, 120 ducks, and over 200 native chickens, along with various animals like pigeons and fish in the pond. Safe vegetables are cultivated on her two-acre of land. Reshma actively operates a Facebook page named “Reshma Krishi Udoog.”

Excluding all costs associated with Reshma’s farm, her annual net profit amounts to Tk 40 lakhs. Reshma currently possesses capital amounting to one crore two lakh taka. Her farm project has also provided employment to a total of 16 women. Additionally, after observing Reshma’s successful work, 20 individuals have become self-employed. Furthermore, in recognition of Reshma’s outstanding work, she has been awarded the ‘National Youth Award-2022’ by the Department of Youth Development, Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Under the RMTP project, 253,832 women actively participate in diverse agricultural activities, receiving grants and financial services to expand their businesses. The project’s annual survey highlights that 58% of women and 41% of youth benefit from economic empowerment, fostering family harmony through shared enterprise engagement.

Reshma’s inspiring journey, shaped by resilience and determination, epitomizes the transformative impact of investing in women and girls. The RMTP, a beacon of hope, not only stopped the violence but also promoted economic independence and community development. From vermicompost production to winning the ‘National Youth Award 2022,’ Reshma’s success underscores the tangible outcomes of such investments.

By Ehsanul Habib
Stories
September 25, 2023

High demands of Kaiyum’s Pro-Tray Nursery Seedling

Kaiyum, a 43-year-old farmer from Panchbibi sub-district in Joypurhat, traditionally reared livestock animals and earned 10,000 takas each month. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he had to sell his animals to meet his family’s financial needs. Subsequently, he leased 100 decimals of agricultural land to produce vegetables. Unfortunately, he found that there was a lack of quality vegetable seedlings in his area. To address this problem, he decided to produce high-quality seedlings himself and supply them to local farmers to increase their production.

Fortunately, the RMTP project introduced Kaiyum to the “Pro Tray Nursery Seedling” technique, which is part of the “Eco-friendly safe vegetable cultivation and marketing” sub-project. The project provided him with capacity building training, technical support, coco media, 250 reusable plastic trays, quality seeds, mulching papers, green netting, and other resources.

Kaiyum invested 40,000 takas of his own money into the venture. The project also assisted him in marketing his seedlings to farmers through various meetings. Within 25 days, Kaiyum sold 25,000 seedlings in the first round of production. He then purchased an additional 100 plastic trays to expand seedling production for the second round, during which he sold 32,000 seedlings.

He now produces various types of seedlings in his nursery, including green chilli, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, cabbage, cucumber, tomato, bottle gourd, pumpkin, capsicum, papaya, and bean. Currently, there are 97,500 seedlings in his nursery, and he is taking advance orders from farmers for their supply. 

He now earns 30,000 takas each month, and three women work in his farm and are also learning this modern technology. Kaiyum’s wife, Emroja, directly manages the nursery and has increased her efficiency in this regard. Due to the high demand for pro tray seedlings in his area, Kaiyum plans to expand his business and has set a target of producing 100,000 seedlings in each cycle.

One farmer, Md. Hasan Ali Bakul, said, “I have used Kaiyum’s nursery’s seedlings, which are of good quality and have increased my vegetable production.”

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
Stories
March 21, 2023

Technology empowers women in Bangladesh

In the northernmost part of Bangladesh, on the foothills of the Himalayas, a group of women in brightly-coloured headscarves walk along rows of equally vibrant tulips.

Supported by IFAD’s Rural Microenterprise Transformation Project, and co-financed by Danida, and PKSF, these women are part of a group of farmers who were provided with tulip bulbs and training on how to grow the flowers then market them online. After grading, cutting and packaging the flowers, they are sent to Dhaka for sale. In less than a year, the farmers have made close to 1 million BDT (just over US$ 9,000).

As the tulips bloomed, so did the local economy. Having spotted the tulip fields on social media, tourists began flocking to the picturesque place, generating business for local restaurants and accommodation.

 

Both the entrance fee to the tulip garden and flower orders can be paid using mobile money transfer and mobile banking, with many customers placing orders on WhatsApp and Messenger.

As her phone pings with a new order, flower grower Shumi Akter tells us how “the marketing and cashless money transfer system have boosted our confidence.”

But today’s success did not come easy—it required sacrifice and determination. “Many of our neighbours criticized us for cultivating tulips,” says flower farmer Sajeda Begum. The women’s success is shifting attitudes around gender norms and inspiring others to invest in this profitable venture. “Now, they are turning to us for advice on how to grow tulips.”

https://www.ifad.org/en/web/latest/-/from-tulips-to-tomatoes-technology-empowers-women-in-asia?p_l_back_url=%2Fen%2Fweb%2Flatest%2Fstories

By Ehsanul Habib
Stories
February 13, 2023

Technology changed a life

Mithun (50), a marginal farmer, lives in Arjinaogaon Dakkin Para of Naogaon Sadar Upazila. Despite his age, this workaholic man did not give up on any work.

He has a house and a little fallow land. He could not meet the basic needs of his family members. In his family, there are five members including his wife, son, son’s wife, and grandson. He used to earn money by working on others’ land.

His wife is supportive and inspired him to do something. Mithun’s wife used to raise goats while Mithun cultivate grass in a small area. His son and wife always assisted him in this work.

He has been selected as an RMTP project participant of PKSF through its Partner Organization Dabi Moulik Unnayan Sangstha. He has received technical knowledge of high-value fodder cultivation and marketing through the “Market expansion of safe meat and dairy products” value chain sub-project. He follows all the suggestions, and leased 100 decimals of land. After a month and a half of planting grass, he started selling grass on the nearby farms. He bought two auto charger vans as there are huge demand for grass and the grass business become profitable. He also got acquainted with the meat and dairy farmers of the Naogaon and Bogura districts with the help of the project.

Now he earns BDT 3,600 daily by selling fodder of 100 decimals of leased land. He has purchased two electric tricycles to transport grass to the 60 dairy farms. Now he is a well-known fodder cultivator in his locality. Inspired by Mithun, there are 50 project participants who started the fodder business through the technical, and technological support of the RMTP project.

By Ehsanul Habib
Stories
February 13, 2023

Garol Sheep Farming: Profitable Venture in the Livestock Sector

Ashraf Ali of Kalitala, Sariakandi Upazila, Bogura, retired from a construction company at the age of 60. After retirement, he started some businesses but lost his capital. He broke emotionally. Later, he saw the lucrative possibility of raising Garol Sheep on YouTube and became enthusiastic about Garol rearing.

He said, “I started the farm a year ago with 25 Garols. However, I had no idea about their proper management and disease. As a result, faced a series of problems one after another.” He was identified as an entrepreneur in the Value Chain Development sub-project under the RMTP through its partner organization named Gram Unnayan Karma – GUK. He started raising Garol in a modern system with the support of RMTP project. With proper farm management and support from the services providers, at present, in his farm, a total of 92 Garols. Also, three  employees are working in his farm.

This IFAD–funded project is implemented by PKSF through its partner organization, Gram Unnayan Karma (GUK). Through this project, he began modernizing his Garol farming and, with proper farm management as well as support from the services providers, he was able to increase the number of Garols on his farm.

He added, “There is a huge demand for Garol meat in the market as it is delicious. Now, Garol meat is selling at BDT 800 per kg in the market. ”   

He participated in the Livestock Exhibition-2022 organized by “District Livestock Office, Bogura” in Sariakandi Upazila to inspire others to keep Garol rearing. Garol became the main attraction at that fair, and he won first place.

Ashraf Ali said, “Female Garol start giving birth at the age of six months. They usually eat all kinds of food like goat or sheep.” After deducting his monthly expenses for running the farm, he earns about BDT 12,000.

Many people are enthusiastic to visit his Garol farm and have set up a Garol farm in this area. Mia, a student from Dhap village in Sariakandi Upazila, said, “I’m rearing Garol in my home beside study. Now, I’m able to provide  extra financial support to my parents and bearing my education cost.“

Ashraf Ali said that, he will increase the size of his Garol farm in future, so that he can supply more Garol to the interested Garol farmers.

Osman Gani, a field worker at the Sariakandi Livestock Office, said Ashraf Ali is the pioneer of Garol farming. Following his success many of the local farmers rearing Garol in this area. Through the RMTP project, 70 Garol demonstration farm have been established by 8 Partner Organizations. 

By Ehsanul Habib
Stories
February 13, 2023

Cattle hotel in Sirajganj makes a mark 

There are 148 livestock markets across the country. These markets (locally called haat) sit twice a week for trading, but they remain open almost every day as traders turn up with their unsold cattle. These cattle are kept in temporary sheds near the markets, or tied up under the open sky. The traders stay around them or in nearby houses for one or two days due to unavailability of hotels in those areas. An innovative initiative by Master Shahidul Islam of Kamarkhand upazila of Sirajganj district is changing all this. 

Shahidul has been dealing with cattle for 20 years. He buys cattle from different parts of the country and supplies them to other areas, mainly Sylhet and Chittagong. At one point, he discovered that traders faced a number of challenges when they brought in their cattle to markets, as there was barely any room for safekeeping the cattle and stocking their feed.

This prompted Shahidul, a cattle trader from Sirajganj’s Kamarkhand upazila, to come up with an innovative solution: safe accommodation for both traders and cattle. He established the country’s first ‘Cattle Hotel’ in his neighbourhood in 2020. Initially, the initiative did not gain much traction as the hotel lacked some basic amenities. But things started to turn around when PKSF stepped in. The hotel was refurbished with financial and technical support from Rural Microenterprise Transformation Project, a project jointly funded by PKSF and International Fund for Agricultural Development. The refurbishment included treatment facilities for animals, installation of weight machines, improved drainage system, lighting and ventilation management, and heat reduction management. PKSF’s partner organisation National Development Programme-NDP is implementing the project in Kamarkhand. At present, cattle and traders are getting various services under the same roof.

Now the hotel, located adjacent to the Baradhul haat in Baradhul village of Kamarkhand upazila, is accommodating 10 traders and 150 cattle on average every day. A trader has to pay BDT 150 for himself and BDT 50 for each cattle for a night’s stay. While this ‘cattle hotel’ has solved the area’s age-old problem of accommodation of livestock animals and traders, it has also enhanced Shahidul’s income. 

On an average day, he earns about BDT 9,000 from the hotel. Shahidul is currently looking for more land to expand his business. Meanwhile, having seen its potential for fast growth, a number of locals have already replicated his model and set up their own ‘cattle hotel’.

Rural Micro Enterprise Transformation Project (RMTP) is working to extend the financial services of microenterprises as well as to improve the income, food security, and nutrition status of small and marginal farmers, entrepreneurs, and other market actors involved in the value chains of selected high-value agricultural products. The project is implementing value chain development activities across the country to expand the markets for comparative advantage, market demand, and growth of agro-based products.

By Ehsanul Habib
Stories
February 13, 2023

Success in commercial production of silage

Md Rubel Hossain is a 25-year-old youth of Betua village at Ullapara upazila in Sirajganj district. Born and raised in a family ruled by, above anything else, excruciating poverty, Rubel could not afford to continue his studies after the Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) examinations. Now driven by a dire need to support his family, he was feeling even worse as he could not find a sustainable source of income

Rubel, already having access to internet, would watch videos on Facebook and YouTube on various micro and small enterprises. These videos inspired him to pursue an agricultural initiative but he would not see success. Rubel underwent training in fodder crop cultivation through the Rural Microenterprise Transformation Project (RMTP), which is implemented by the National Development Program (NDP) – a local Partner Organization of PKSF, in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

He gained knowledge about modern ways of producing and marketing silage (green fodder compacted and stored in airtight conditions). “After the training, I cultivated five types of grass on two acres of land. Also, I received a grant of BDT 15,000 from the project. I used the money to buy a vacuum machine and started producing silage,” said Rubel, adding that his business was immediately off to a promising start. Subsequently, Rubel obtained a trade license to start a company called ‘RP Agro Silage’.

He also opened a Facebook page to promote his product, resulting in a tremendously well response from buyers even from distant places like Pabna, Barisal and Dhaka. At present, he produces and sells over 15 tonnes of silage per month to earn a net profit of around BDT 100000. Currently, Rubel is training local farmers on growing fodder in fallow land.

Following Rubel’s success, Sirajganj district Livestock Officer visited the fodder cultivation plot and silage plant, which was then subsequently visited by farmers from other areas to learn about silage production.

Rubel expressed his ambition to expand the business, including establishing a contract farming system with fodder farmers to supply fodder to his silage plant, testing silage quality at a government lab, and obtaining BSTI certification from the Bangladesh government, as well as printing sacks bearing his company’s brand name, trademark and details.

By Ehsanul Habib