Bangladesh

Farmer-owned cooperatives in Bangladesh driving economic growth

Our work with women-led community self-help groups strengthens networks and information sharing within communities, and links farmers to local markets.

Detailed map highlighting the geographic locations of past and active projects in Bangladesh.
Location
Bangladesh
Products
Dairy, Beef, Goat
Active Since
2006 

Background:

Bangladesh's vibrant development and booming population have increased demand for food, creating new opportunities to connect local farmers to markets. To foster this economic growth, challenges must be overcome.

Deteriorating land quality in saturated rural areas combined with climate change-induced drought and other natural disasters diminishes crop yields. These conditions can cause food insecurity and push farming families further into poverty. Women, who traditionally shoulder much of the household and family farm labor, have historically been unable to own land, make household decisions or access local services.

Heifer International began work in Bangladesh in 2006, focusing on three main value chains: dairy, goat and beef. We work with women farmers in northern Bangladesh to improve sustainability and build their farming capacity through better animal care and cultivation techniques.

 

More than 139,000  families supported by our work.

Our work with women-led community self-help groups strengthens networks and information sharing within communities, and links farmers to local markets. In addition to training designed to support local women farmers, Heifer promotes gender equity education to further expand opportunities for women entrepreneurs.

Heifer Bangladesh’s Beef and Dairy Value Chain Program connects and empowers local women farmers. Tools and education enable women farmers to boost their incomes and reliably feed their families and communities, as they bring greater quantities of milk and beef to market.

Through kitchen gardens and backyard poultry production, families are producing healthy, reliable fruit, vegetables and eggs, giving them a consistent supply of nutritious food and helping to close the living income gap.

Newly established women-led family cooperatives pool funding to catalyze business development. Greater economic prosperity enhances sanitation through latrines and cleaner drinking water sources. And women farmers are able to protect the environment through organic cultivation, composting and tree planting.

Living Income

Heifer works with farmers to secure a living income so they can lead dignified and prosperous lives. Learn more about what achieving a living income entails.

Partners

  • Ashrai
  • Association for Community Development
  • Bangladesh Association for Social Development
  • Jagoroni Chakra Foundation
  • National Development Programme
  • Palli BIkash Kendra
  • South Asian Partnership – Bangladesh
  • WAVE Foundation

More about our work in Bangladesh

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