Engaging Rural Women in Entrepreneurship Through an Innovative and Sustainable Dairy Model

Women are vulnerable due to limited access to economic opportunities, capital, land, and skills in rural Bangladesh. In 2005, Kazi Shahid Foundation (KSF), an independent welfare organization has promoted an innovative “Specialized Dairy Farming Model” linking with the commercial organic tea plantation, organic produces, and biogas production to improve the rural community, particularly women, in the northern part of Bangladesh. The typical dairy farming models involve exchanging of cash that limits the potential for sustainable development, whereas KSF Dairy Model provides milking cows and calves to its women members, and repayment is based on milk and cow dung, implementing “no cash” microfinance repayment system. This model also ensures risk minimization through cow insurance and veterinary care. KSF’s continuous efforts toward enhancing community-based dairy farming have now become a leading income-generating activity for poor and marginal households. The model has developed sustainable farming systems to deliver economic value, environmental benefit, and knowledge sharing with the community. In the course of innovation and outreach development for entrepreneurial opportunity through demonstration, commercialization, adopting scientific farming practices, a significant increase in quality milk production and animal performance has occurred. It can reduce poverty and improve the economy of an entire community in a sustainable manner.