Strengthening Resilience of Livestock Farmers Through Risk Reducing Services

Livestock is one of the main sources of income for rural people. In Bangladesh, livestock animals often fall victims to natural calamities and sudden outbreaks of diseases. PKSF is implementing two projects to help the poor from such sudden calamities. One aims to protect livestock and the other to mitigate the impacts of climate change and other disaster risks on poor people.

LRMP Project
In order to streamline the livestock extension services and enhance capacity of farmers, PKSF is implementing the Strengthening Resilience of Livestock Farmers through Risk Reducing Services (LRMP) project. Its main objectives are to develop capacity of livestock farmers and increase their resilience to natural disasters and disease outbreaks. In addition, a model for sustainable implementation of expansion and other financial services is being developed under the Livestock Protection Services program.

The project, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), is being implemented through 15 POs in 39 districts. A total of BDT 1,301.31 crore in loans were disbursed to 3,25,349 members from June 2020 to June 2022 in the livestock sector.

Loan and service charges amounting to BDT 83.58 lakh and 62.49 lakh respectively were waived due to the death of 149 farmers and 215 animals. In addition, 81,222 farmers were trained on Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP) and 2,28,484 livestock animals were vaccinated against various infectious diseases.

IRMP Project
The Project for Developing Inclusive Risk Mitigation Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction (IRMP) has been in operation since 2019 with the financial assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). It aims to provide financial and non-financial services to the poor to mitigate the effects of climate change and other disasters. Various financial and non-financial services are being developed, necessary policies being formulated and institutional framework being developed to serve the intended members.
The first Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting, chaired by the PKSF Managing Director, of the project decided to launch a product titled ‘Cyclone Surokkha Seba’ through 7 POs in the coastal region of Bangladesh. Also, Randomized Control Trial (RCT)-based field research will be conducted to determine the impacts and future usefulness of the project’s financial and non-financial services.