ICMSE has established a pilot project of a Dairy Farm in Bogra with to reach following objectives :
to develop a high-tech farm introducing high breed cows to produce satisfactory quantity and high quality milk and meat
- to transform this farm as a model farm for local farmers where they can come and learn the practical experiences how to manage the dairy farm in sustainable way. The ICMSE Dairy Farm is also producing bio fertilizers to produce bio agricultural product and helping local farmers to do the same.
to develop a training and resource centre for local farmers in order to develop their skills and increase their production through having the regular services from its health centre, artificial insemination program, training activities and microcredit program for buying high breed cows. In the same time local farmers could be the part of the dairy cooperative for managing their milk production and selling it to the corporate customers.
This project has already huge infrastructure with training center, treatment centre along with cowsheds for accommodating 200 cows in 7 hectares land and very soon the whole farm would be ready for accommodating 500 cows according to the expansion plan by the end of 2009.
ICMSE has designed the Dairy Farm in Bogra as an integrated farm which developed many activities to address the challenges of the local dairy activities and its diversification.
CURRENT SITUATION: Huge lack of production and supplies of milk and meat in the country compare to the current demand. Indeed Bangladesh produces only ¼ of its current demand. That is the reason why malnutrition is still a burning issue.
ICMSE SOLUTION:
Involving in the concept of social business ICMSE sells its whole milk production to Grameen Danone Food Ltd. which is an another social business initiative. Indeed the Grameen Danone produces nutritious yoghurt, the features of which compensate for the nutritional lack of Bangladeshi children. Shokti Doi is very cheap to accessible for poor people.
CURRENT SITUATION:
High prices of chemical fertilizers and the significant impact on environment lead to identify harmless inputs, such as bio fertilizers.
ICMSE SOLUTIONS:
Production and sale of bio fertilizers (ICMSE current production is 450 kg a day) which are 100% natural, improve soil fertility, health and quality of plants. Furthermore bio fertilizers are cheaper than chemical fertilizers.
CURRENT SITUATION:
Agriculture is the principal way of living for the majority of Bangladeshi population (2/3 of Bangladeshi people work in the agricultural sector), but most of them do not have a sufficient production level to live in decent conditions.
ICMSE SOLUTIONS:
ICMSE proposes many services to the local farmers:
Training centre: to encourage local farmers to get more involved in organic farming and producing safe and healthy food.
Health centre for the cows
Artificial insemination for the cows
Microcredit for buying cows
Milk collection and conservation of the milk in a cooling centre
The average bangladeshi eats a total of 126 grams of fruits and vegetables daily. This is far below the minimum daily consumption of 400 grams of fruits and vegetables and fruit recommended by FAO and the World Health Organization (WHO). As a consequence there is a real need for fruits and vegetables in Bangladesh.
During the crop season, there are quite enough quantities of food and hundreds of tons are spoiled due to the lack of preservation and effective marketing system. Most Bangladeshi’s cannot afford imported goods.
The project is to build a preservation centre to store fruits and vegetables and develop a hygienic packaging process allowing fresh fruits and vegetables to last longer. The goods available would be fruit and vegetable packaging, fresh fruit juice, fruit in a can, and tomato sauce.