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November 7, 2024

Sirajganj’s Tk100cr dairy market thrives on milk production boom

Abdul Khaleque was perplexed when he received an order via WhatsApp from several people in Kolkata’s Jorasanko, India, requesting several tonnes of buttermilk products locally known as “ghol” and “matha.”

The Indian customers had tasted the buttermilk from his shop in Sirajganj’s Salop area during their visit to Bangladesh a year ago and were interested in starting a business selling these products in Kolkata. However, Khaleque could not fulfill their order as he struggles to meet the high demand for buttermilk in his own area.

Khaleque told that he needs 100 maunds of milk every day to make ghol, matha, curd, and ghee for the domestic market. “At least Tk1 crore worth of products are sold in my shop every month,” he said.

Currently, 10 to 12 buttermilk shops have been established in Salop, with the market trading about Tk40 crore worth of these products annually.

As in Salop, the dairy products market in the district has been thriving due to a boom in cattle farming, supported by both government and private organisations. Officials report that dairy products worth over Tk100 crore are produced annually in the district, fostering the growth of hundreds of local entrepreneurs.

According to the District Livestock Department, there are about 33,000 small and large cattle farms in Sirajganj, housing more than 1.5 million cattle and producing around 7.16 lakh tonnes of milk per year. Companies like Baghabari Milk Vita, Aarong, and others collect about three lakh litres of milk daily from farmers, with daily sales amounting to over Tk1.65 crore.

Referring to Sirajganj’s history of milk production spanning over 100 years, Abdul Khaleque, owner of the ISO-certified shop, said that he and his brother Abdul Maleque have received training and loan assistance through various projects related to producing high-quality products.

“About 50 people are employed in our two shops. There is huge demand for our matha and ghol in Malda and Siliguri in India. However, we have not been able to export our products there due to the high local demand,” Khaleque said.

Women farmers power dairy boom

"I have seen cows affected by various diseases before, but I learned how to rear cows healthily after training in the RMTP project." Cattle farmer Hashi Khatun from Ullapara, Sirajganj

To develop the market for multi-purpose milk products, the Rural Microenterprise Transformation Project (RMTP) is being implemented in 12 districts across the country, funded by the International Agricultural Development Fund (IFAD), Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF), and the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA).

The project provides technical, technological, and marketing support to 201,480 farmers and entrepreneurs, aiming to create a robust dairy products market and foster new entrepreneurs.

PKSF officials say safe milk and milk products are being produced in the district in an environmentally friendly manner. Entrepreneurs are increasing their income through processing and marketing, with rural milk collection centres set up to support their efforts.

Eco-friendly housing, pollution prevention measures, and modern machinery and technology for producing various dairy products have also been provided to the entrepreneurs.

Namita Halder, managing director of PKSF, stated that this sub-project has expanded the businesses of several hundred thousand people and increased their income.

Most of the cattle farmers involved in the project are women, who, after receiving training, started rearing cows at home. 

"At the training, I learned how to raise cattle at low cost. We were also introduced to milk traders, and through them, we now sell milk on a monthly basis."
Cattle Farmer
Meera Sanyal

One such farmer is Hashi Khatun from the Ullapara area of Sirajganj.

Hashi had six high-breed cows in her backyard farm, selling three recently and retaining three.

“I have seen cows affected by various diseases before, but I learned how to rear cows healthily after training in the RMTP project,” she said.

Taposhi Khatun, from Kamarkhand upazila, took a loan from the National Development Programme’s (NDP) Rural Microenterprise Transformation Project funded by the PKSF and IFAD in 2022 to start a cattle farm. Her farm now has two heifers and several cows.

“I underwent training on cow rearing from various institutions. I also cultivate grass on 16 acres of land. Silage is made from the grass and fed to the animals,” she said.

Taposhi Khatun, from Kamarkhand upazila, took a loan from the National Development Programme’s (NDP) Rural Microenterprise Transformation Project funded by the PKSF and IFAD in 2022 to start a cattle farm. Her farm now has two heifers and several cows.

“I underwent training on cow rearing from various institutions. I also cultivate grass on 16 acres of land. Silage is made from the grass and fed to the animals,” she said.

Another farmer, Meera Sanyal, said, “At the training, I learned how to raise cattle at low cost. We were also introduced to milk traders, and through them, we now sell milk on a monthly basis.”

Farmers say they have been trained in maintaining a healthy environment and managing waste. Many have set up biogas and vermicomposting plants and have purchased lawn mowers for mechanisation. They are also utilising telemedicine services via mobile apps.

Md Alauddin Khan, executive director of NDP, which has been working to implement modern dairy practices, told TBS, “The country will benefit if the farmers in this area are guided on how to produce and market milk in a modern and safe manner.”

Sirajganj Livestock Officer Dr Omar Faruque said, “Sirajganj has long been known as a dairy industry region. Among its upazilas, Ullapara and Shahjadpur are particularly famous for milk production. There are 37 dairy factories in these two upazilas.”

https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/sirajganjs-tk100cr-dairy-market-thrives-milk-production-boom-884601

By Ehsanul Habib
News & Events
October 23, 2024

Certified dairy products promoted through RMTP 

RMTP helps entrepreneurs introduce a range of diversified dairy products. These include sweets, curd, ghee, butter, buttermilk, and cheese. The milk used in these dairy products is collected from farmers who maintain GGAP compliance, ensuring high-quality standards. To support the entrepreneurs involved in the production of these dairy products, the project has provided comprehensive training on various business aspects such as production, processing, fortification, marketing, branding, and certification.

Besides, the project provides modern machineries to the farmers. As a result, 57 entrepreneurs have received BSTI and 41 have received ISO certificates. These certified products are now selling on online and offline marketing platforms. Also, they are exporting cheese and ghee to foreign markets. 

By Ehsanul Habib
News & EventsStories
August 15, 2024

Mozzarella cheese woman of Thakurgoan who works wonders

Cheese production thrives in colder climates making Thakurgaon an ideal location

Life threw an unexpected curveball at Nagina Najnin Banu in 2010. That year, she had to leave her comfortable job and take the business of cheese-making her father had pioneered in Thakurgaon.

In its first year, Najnin’s Eminent Agro Industries Limited yielded Tk9 lakh in revenue mostly from making mozzarella cheese, the special cheese used in premium pizzas. Mozzarella is a semi-soft non-aged cheese from southern Italy. It is prepared with cow milk or buffalo milk, of mild flavour, slightly sweet in taste and stretchy in texture.

Najnin’s father Humayun Reza died in 2017, but she was fortunate that her father had started off a successful cheese production industry in Thakurgaon. And not just Najnin, many others, including women, have since become successful cheese producers in the district. There are 33 cheese factories in this northern district that are mostly agrarian – seven of them operated by women entrepreneurs.

Najnin proudly mentions her company has received the ISO certification – a recognition by an international standard setting organisation adding credibility to a product or service that meets the customer expectations. She recalls how lucky she was to have attracted skilled workers when she started the factory, as many others were closing down in Thakurgaon.

Initially, her factory required 1,500 litres of milk daily and began supplying 500kg of mozzarella cheese per month to a local pizza shop. Later, she secured a deal with a foreign company, which now demands 6,000kg of mozzarella cheese every month, shipping it all the way to Michigan, USA. Najnin also supplies cheese to Pizza Inn with dedicated marketing offices in Dhaka.

Reflecting on their cheese production, she says there is a growing demand for mozzarella, cheddar, and feta cheese, especially in recent years, despite fluctuations due to the pandemic. With upgraded technology, her factory can now process 22 tonnes of milk daily.

Najnin borrowed Tk25 lakh from her mother to start. Her capital has since grown to over Tk60 lakh. The factory sits on a five-decimal parcel of land and she has ambitious plans for further expansion to 42 decimals of land for large-scale production in the near future.

How Thakurgaon became a cheese hub

Humayun Reza, Najnin’s father, worked for an NGO in the 1980s, assisting dairy farmers in Thakurgaon. Seeing that farmers were not receiving fair prices for their milk, he hit on the idea of processing milk into cheese. In 1988, he set up his own NGO called Humanitarian Agency for Development Services, HADS for short, in Thakurgaon, primarily focusing on agriculture, including cattle rearing.  But Reza remained committed to his cheese-making vision. 

He brought two consultants from Denmark to teach locals how to make cheese. With their assistance, the first mozzarella cheese formula suitable for Bangladeshi climate was developed between 1996 and 1998. After publishing an ad  on his locally made cheese, he sold 50kg of mozzarella cheese for the first time under the HADS banner at Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka. This marked the beginning of cheese production in Thakurgaon, and soon, businesses like Westin and Radisson began sourcing cheese from the region. 

His time with international NGOs helped Reza gain access to top hotel owners across the country and he had the opportunity to supply his HADS brand mozzarella and other varieties of cheese to various renowned venues including Canadian Club and British Club. When Reza found it difficult to get loans for his business, as an NGO, Reza established Eminent Agro Limited in 2003. Support from the Canadian ambassador and expertise from an American allowed for further development of cheese technology, and it improved the cheese’s quality. Later, a foreign experts arrived to train local women in cheese production. As a result, more people took up cheese-making and the business expanded across the district. 

Currently, seven cheese makers facilities in the area have acquired ISO certification with another 13 in progress. Producers say 350 workers are directly engaged in cheese production and 90% of them are women. The district now produces over 4,200kg of cheese daily, along with 250kg of ghee and 2,500kg of whey. 

What makes Thakurgaon cheese so good

Cheese production thrives in colder climates, making Thakurgaon, a northern district closer to the Himalayas an ideal location. Cheese makers there focus on quality and think the milk sourced from farmers is the reason for high quality cheese. Workers in all the cheese factories in Thakurgaon wear clean white clothes. The factory floors are maintained clean at all times. Entry is restricted to workers only. The cheese is stored in a deep freezer until it is ready for sale.

Long time worker Beauty Akter at Eminent Agro praises the excellent working environment at the factory. She has to clean her hands after making cheese and the factory area is regularly sprayed with vinegar. Beauty says that spending most of her day in a clean environment has also impressed her family who now also keep the home clean.

Nurul Haque, deputy general manager of Thakurgaon Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation, says the cheese industry in the district is growing steadily. Last year there were 26 factories in the district and now there are 33. 

“We are providing loans from the government to four institutions. Others have applied for loans. We are working on their development. However, the role of local and foreign development organisations is more in this industrial development,” he added.

Masuma gains fame

Masuma Khanam, a housewife from Nischintapur area of Thakurgaon, has become one of the district’s successful cheese entrepreneurs. 

When her husband fell ill in 1982 and could no longer work, Masuma moved to Thakurgaon town with their children. Over the years, she ventured into various businesses with her husband, and in 2012, following her eldest son’s suggestion, she established a cheese factory in a closed-down facility in Nischintapur.

Masuma’s factory started with just 27 litres of milk but now processes around 2,500 litres of milk daily, catering to increasing demand in Dhaka. The factory generates an income of Tk1.80 lakh per month, employing 13 women and two men. 

Encouraged by her success, Masuma’s children have also entered the cheese-making business, setting up factories in Pabna, Bogura, and Thakurgaon, with ISO certification and diversified product lines.

Masuma, who owns multiple plots in Thakurgaon town, is passionate about empowering women in North Bengal and aims to continue working with them.

Her dedication was recognised in 2017 when she received the “Best Small Entrepreneur” award from the Citi Foundation. Additionally, her ISO-certified organisation has received grants from both government and private sectors.

From worker to owner

Rashida Khanam, the owner of Mumtaz Food, is on a remarkable journey from being a worker in a cheese factory to becoming an entrepreneur herself. 

She recalls, “I was just an ordinary housewife struggling to make ends meet for my two children. In 2015, I was having a hard time with money and I decided to learn the trade and started my own factory at home. Now, with the help of eight to ten women workers, I run my factory.”

Despite her challenges, Rashida is determined to provide for her family. Her husband, now overseeing the business as a contractor, supports her efforts. 

Additionally, Rashida has expanded her business by venturing into ice cream production, ensuring no wastage of milk. She reflects proudly, “I can now use all parts of the milk productively.”

Chandana Rani's goat milk cheese

In 2017, following her husband’s advice, Chandana Rani established a goat farm in Dholarhat, Thakurgaon Sadar. Initially, she was simply caring for goats, but after attending private training sessions, she recognised the potential of goat milk and its market value. 

With a herd of 103 goats, she now produces 10 to 15 litres of milk per day, which she supplies to Cheese Land, a cheese production factory. The market price of goat milk is now Tk100 per kg. Meanwhile, Jahangir Alam, the owner of Cheese Land, transitioned from his previous role as a marketing officer at Eminent Agro to owning his cheese factory. 

Initially starting with five workers in 2013, he now employs 22 workers. Jahangir says effective marketing is important in the cheese industry. “Despite producing high-quality mozzarella cheese, success hinges on strong marketing efforts targeting big hotels and restaurants.”

Milk supply

As many as 3,865 dairy farmers supply milk to the cheese factories in Thakurgaon. There are also 70 milkmen in the area who supply milk directly to factories from farmers. Dairy farmer Mahfuza says, “Earlier we used to breed local cows. We used to feed the cows as we always used to do. But now I don’t do anything without the doctor’s advice. Due to this, safe milk is available. We now supply milk to cheese factories through milkmen.”

Another farmer, Gulshan Ara takes care of three cows at home. She says, “We are doing well because of the demand for milk in the cheese factory. No need to go to the market to sell milk. There is no more worry about the education of my children.”

There are milk collection points in the cow farming areas of the district. From there the milkmen collect milk at certain times. A profit of Tk1 is paid per kg of milk delivered to the cheese factory. Milkman Kalipad Sarkar says, “We have benefited a lot due to the cheese factories in the district. Now there is no tension about selling milk. No matter the storm, the rain, our income does not suffer. Our safe income is here.”

Meanwhile, a factory called Pure Agro has been established in Thakurgaon to produce maize silage, recommended as an excellent feed option.  

Golam Sarwar Robin, the company’s owner, says their company produced 12,000 tonnes of silage last year, which is purchased by farmers across the country. Silage is highly beneficial for cows and can be stored for several years.

Abul Kalam Azad, the district’s livestock officer, says the district has two lakh cows spurred by the huge demand for milk. This demand has surged due to the increasing number of cheese factories, resulting in fair prices for farmers and attracting new entrepreneurs to the industry.

Potential of Thakurgaon cheese

Reliable information regarding the cheese industry was not available in any government office in the district. However, the Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO) has been actively supporting cheese industry entrepreneurs in Thakurgaon by providing various assistance, including micro-credit and conducting research.

Md Shahid Uz Zaman, executive director of ESDO, says the demand for milk in the district is at least 50 tonnes per day. The daily demand for mozzarella cheese in the country is 5,000kg to 6,000kg, with Thakurgaon contributing to 75% of the production. Cheese is sold at Tk500 to Tk600 per kg, resulting in annual cheese production in the district exceeding Tk90.72 crore. Samples have already been sent to South Korea for export, and if accepted, Thakurgaon could potentially export 4,000 kg of cheese to South Korea monthly, he adds.

Besides, through initiatives like the PKSF’s (Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation) “Rural Microenterprise Transformation Project”, farmers have been trained to produce pure milk, resulting in high-quality cheese.

Donor organisations such as IFAD, the Danish Government, and the PKSF are providing financial and technical support to farmers through ESDO.

Deputy Managing Director of PKSF, Dr Akond Md Rafiqul Islam, says the project aims to enhance the value chain of agricultural products using technology, with ongoing activities in cheese and other sectors, benefiting stakeholders and aiming for continued success in the future.

https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/industry/mozzarella-cheese-women-thakurgaon-who-work-wonders-805490

By Ehsanul Habib
News & Events
April 2, 2024

Financial institutions division official conducts field visit

To oversee the progress of project implementation, Muhammad Amin Sharif, Senior Assistant Secretary of the Financial Institutions Division, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, visited Chittagong on April 14, 2023, to assess the Rural Microenterprise Transformation Project activities. These activities are being implemented by the partner organization YPSA. Mr Sharif expressed his satisfaction with the initiatives, particularly highlighting the commendable efforts in safe cattle rearing and the production of processed milk products such as ghee, curd, buttermilk, and sweets.

By Ehsanul Habib
News & Events
April 1, 2024

Establishing vaccine hubs in the grassroots

The livestock sector continues to face significant challenges, with high mortality and morbidity rates among cattle being particularly concerning. To address this issue, RMTP has established 175 vaccine hubs across 36 upazilas in 12 districts. This initiative aims to provide regular, high-quality vaccination services to approximately 650,000 livestock, including cows, buffaloes, goats, and sheep, benefiting 200,000 farmers annually. Furthermore, efforts to combat vaccine hesitancy include training around 2,000 skilled vaccinators and educating 200,000 farmers through comprehensive training programs.

By Ehsanul Habib
News & Events
April 1, 2024

Diversified milk products to fulfil demands of consumers

Bangladesh’s dairy industry is meeting the growing demand for milk products by diversifying products. To meet an ever-increasing demand and reduce import dependency, RMTP has introduced various initiatives to produce a wide range of high-quality milk-based products. These include sweets, curd, ghee, cheese, butter, and buttermilk. These products are now easily accessible online and offline, offering better customer experiences. For details, please click on the link https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/industry/mozzarella-cheese-women-thakurgaon-who-work-wonders-805490

By Ehsanul Habib
News & Events
March 31, 2024

Managing Director of PKSF Inaugurates ‘Chuadanga Meat’ Enterprise of RMTP

Dr Nomita Halder ndc, Managing Director of PKSF, inaugurated ‘Chuadanga Meat Center’ established by WAVE Foundation, a Partner Organization PKSF, in Alamdanga Upazila of Chuadanga district under RMTP on 6 February 2024. Dr Halder conveyed her sincere appreciation to all for initiating this innovative endeavour. The inaugural ceremony was also attended by Dr Mostafizur Rahman, Upazila Livestock Officer, and Mohsin Ali, Executive Director of Wave Foundation.

In acknowledgment of the entrepreneurial risk inherent in this initiative, Dr. Halder extended a warm welcome to Mr. Jillur Rahman. She expressed her optimistic anticipation for the widespread acceptance of ‘Chuadanga Meat’ among the general populace. The inaugural ceremony was also graced by the presence of Dr. Mostafizur Rahman, Upazila Livestock Officer, and Mr. Mohsin Ali, Executive Director of Wave Foundation. This significant event marks a pivotal milestone in the collaborative efforts aimed at fostering sustainable economic development and promoting the welfare of communities within the region.

By Ehsanul Habib
News & Events
March 31, 2024

PKSF Chairman visits field activities in Panchagarh and Thakurgaon

PKSF Chairman Dr M. Khairul Hossain visited various programs being implemented through ESDO, a Partner Organization (PO) of PKSF in Panchagarh and Thakurgaon districts from 12-14 February 2024.

At the beginning of the tour, he visited the tulip cultivation program in Tetulia. There he exchanged views with the farmers. They discussed the production process, market potential and future action plans. 

On the second day, Dr Khairul Hossain visited a tea garden and tea factories in Panchagarh. Then, he placed a wreath at Aparajeo 71 in Thakurgaon and paid tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War. Later, he visited a cheese factory, telemedicine centre and safe vegetable cultivation program under the RMTP project, implemented through ESDO.

Appreciating RMTP’s value chain activities, Dr Khairul Hossain said “Farmers here are getting good prices by producing and marketing safe vegetables through the project, which impressed me”.

The same day, he participated in a meeting at the ESDO office. In the meeting, he handed over the ISO certificates to seven entrepreneurs of RMTP and unveiled the ECO Animal Service Card. Then he joined a civic reception program followed by a cultural event.

PKSF Chairman, on 14 February, visited a folk museum established by ESDO. During the visit, PKSF’s Senior General Manager (Program) and Project Coordinator of the RMTP Dr Akond Md. Rafiqul Islam and ESDO’s Executive Director Dr Md Shahid Uz Zaman accompanied PKSF Chairman.  

By Ehsanul Habib
Stories
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