Basic Information:

1. Making Markets Work for Women (M2W2) ProjectInnovation Project [Sep 2009-Aug 2012]Implemented by : Integrated Development FoundationCo-operated by : Helen Keller Int’l, Bangladesh (HKI)Financed by: Shiree-DFID

2. Basic Information: Unions: Laxmichari Sadar & Duillatoli Upazila: Laxmichari District: Khagrachari Beneficiaries: 450 Extreme poor women

3. Project goal Govt. of Bangladesh MDG targets one & two on income generation, poverty reduction & hunger achieved by 2015. Project objectives Elimination of extreme poverty for 450 HHs in 30 remote tribal communities of Khagrachari district by 2015.

4. Project Updates Date: 22 April, 2012

5. Output-1: Ecologically appropriate land management systems disseminated to 30 remote tribal communities. Accomplishments: • 4 advocacy workshops conducted with headmen, karbaries & upazila administration on land arrangement for demonstrating ecologically appropriate land management practices. • Feasibility study was conducted by local contour farm experts and as per his suggestion 31 CFs have been established. • Basic & refresher training provided to project staff, beneficiaries, headmen & karbaries through which they all have been aware on ecological land management practices . • Inputs distributed to CFs like hedge plant seed/seedlings, vegetable seed/seedlings, fruit saplings, fertilizers which helped beneficiaries to establish 31 CFs. Result: This year average income already came around Tk.18000/CF and average standing resources amounting Tk 8000/CF (source: Field Officers report)

6. Output-2: Beneficiaries given inputs, equipments and training on market-oriented food production. Accomplishments: • Inputs distributed: Turmeric seed, vegetable seed/ seedlings, potato seed, orange flesh sweet potato vines, maize seed, pineapple & banana sucker, fruit saplings, fertilizer etc were provided which helped the beneficiaries to grow more crops and had a significant income increase • Equipments distributed: Machete, spade, hoe, water cane, shallow pump sets (10), power tillers (5) etc were provided which increased the production of beneficiaries at least by 2 times. • Cash transfer: Grant money provided Tk 1300/HHs for poultry birds/sheds which increased production by at least 3 times. • Training provided: Basic & refresher training on year round gardening, field crop production, poultry rearing etc. Result:In a recent calculation it is seen that beneficiaries average income in last 3 months is Tk 10,200.

7. Output-3: Benfs given inputs, training, and equipment on post-harvest storage, processing, and packaging. Accomplishments: • Inputs distributed: Packaging materials like-glass/plastic jars, poly bags, rice, oil, food processing chemicals etc. At least 80 BHHs are now being involved with processed foods by which they are getting a good monthly income. • Equipments: 3 turmeric grinding machines & 2 cleaning machines, 5 machine houses(cluster basis), 35 solar dryers, 70 slicers, 20 juicers, 5 sealing machines, 31 crockery sets, 25 plastic drums etc. Beneficiaries are using these in group/cluster based and they are being benefitted. • Training: Making- banana & potato chips, pickle, jam & jelly from locally available vegetables/fruits, puffed rice, turmeric & chili powder etc. Trained BHHs are doing better. Result: 80 landless beneficiaries are getting an average monthly income of Tk. 850 (range 250-3400)

8. Output-4: 30 MCs formed & provided with transportation asset, business skills, and marketing information Accomplishments: • MC formation: Through the ‘work together in group’ approach 31 Marketing Committees (MC) have been formed in 5 clusters at the starting of the project. Our most of the activities are MC centered. MCs have become good platforms for all activities. • The MCs have been provided 5 trolley sets with 6 HP engines for carrying their goods to the market place. The MC members are having the exclusive use of the trolley sets specially in 2 weekly hat days. Goods carrying has become easier and encouraging. • The MCs have been provided 6 donkeys to use as the steep transportation. Rotationally they are using these donkeys. Though 4 female donkeys still didn’t start functioning as per the doctor’s advice but 2 male have start functioning. Contd.

9. Business skill & market information: • 1 day training on basic knowledge on marketing and business skill was provided to 450 MC members through which they could make a right choice of a suitable businesses. • 31 MC leaders have been given 2 days basic and 2 days refresher training on business management & leadership role to be played to their MC members. They are playing a good roles. • Local & foreign experts have been hired and they made participatory market research, MC functioning system and provided their marketing strategies effective for the MCs. • Local vendors/buyers/suppliers have been linked with the MCs/MW through meeting/workshop/individual contracts. BHHs are getting suggestions on production & marketing from them. • The local vendors/suppliers are now connected with the MCs by mobile phone. Information exchanged everyday. • A front side market place has been selected in the Laxmichari bazar for sitting altogether of M2W2 BHHs

10. Results: • Beneficiaries bargaining capacity increased radically • Product sale increased by at least 60% for easy transportation and group marketing opportunities. • Beneficiaries’ storage practice increased by at least 50% for processing knowledge and flow of market information

11. Output-5: 30 communities provided with nutrition edn, gender awareness for men & linked with UNDP & govt health services. Accomplishments: • 450 BHHs have received basic & refr training on nutrition education & they are now well aware on maintaining family nutrition either for cooking or food distribution. • 450 BHHs and their husbands have received gender awareness training & husbands now share domestic works with their wives. • 2 big workshops were organized by M2W2 project where Govt & UNDP health personnel have attended including the UNO & UHFPO. The main objective was to make linkage among our BHHs and the other service providers. Contd.

12. Results: • Till date we have ensured 180 health cards for our beneficiaries from the UNDP’s health services and remaining 270 BHHs have been linked with District Council health services from where they are getting extra care by showing their identities. • Till date 91 BHHs have been taken under different Govt safety nets program • For increasing the nutrition and health awareness egg consumption rate is increased by at least 40% and vegetable consumption rate is increased by at least 60% found in a recent survey.

13. Lessons Learned: 1. Seed production & preservation: Our staff and beneficiaries have received training on seed technology from RDA Bogra. They have got some new ideas on biological seed treatment during seed sowing and seed preservation. They have disseminated their learning to other beneficiaries. Now at least all middle women and some of their group members have started these practices.

14. 2. Market oriented crop production for getting more benefit: Previously beneficiaries practiced to produce traditional crops with traditional varieties. They were not concern about market demand or market rate. So very often they had to suffer for marketing their produces. But after practicing the seasonal market survey and regular linkage with the local vendors they have learnt on choosing the valuable crops or varieties. For example: previously beneficiaries produced green bottle gourd and green yard long bean which market demand and price was comparatively low so vendors demanded for white bottle gourd & white yard long bean. This year most of the beneficiaries followed it and got a very good market price.

15. It is reported that about 60% of the beneficiaries have increased their gardening land in this season even if some beneficiaries have taken lease land for vegetable cultivation. • At least 25 beneficiaries had to miss their lease land due to having a remarkable income in the last summer season. Earlier the land lords kept their lands fallow for years after years but when our beneficiaries have took those lands as leased and produced a bumper production and earned good money then the land lord cancelled their lease agreement and started to cultivate themselves. • The hill people has some superstitions that up to the ‘Durgah Puja’ of the Hindu community there will be heavy rainfall and flood so most of them are not agreed to start their gardening activities before the puja.

16. Hedge rows in contour farms can control soil erosions effectively in the rainy season. • Creep feeding can protect chicks from predators and can contribute to increase number of poultry birds. ]

17. Some pictorial views

34. Thank You!