RANGPUR, May 04 (BSS): Over the past 22 years, thriving dairy farms have transformed Kashimpur into a model dairy village, revolutionising milk production and improving the livelihoods and living standards of its residents.
Located about four kilometers northeast of Pirganj upazila town in Mithipur union, the village is home to some 200 families, most of whom are small and marginal farmers.
Dairy farming has now become a traditional family enterprise in the village, with each household typically owning three to five milk-producing cows. Many farmers have 10 to 12, or even more, such cows.
The villagers collectively produce about 15,000 liters of milk daily, which they sell mainly to the local BRAC Chilling Center, three private sector milk purchasing centers, and a Milk Vita center located in nearby Pirganj. To support their dairy efforts, local farmers have cultivated high-yield hybrid grasses such as Napier, Pakchung, Sweet Jumbo, and maize on about 40 acres of land to use as livestock feed.
Speaking to the news agency, villagers said dairy farming in Kashimpur began over two decades ago when a few individuals started rearing cattle on their own initiative, though in an unorganised way. Their initial success inspired neighbors to follow suit, and soon, cow rearing and milk production became a community-wide effort. The remarkable success eventually drew the attention of the Pirganj Upazila Department of Livestock (DLS) and local administration.
Yunus Ali, 35, a local farmer, said he was inspired by his neighbors' achievements and began his dairy venture with a single cow ten years ago. Now, he owns six milk-giving cows and produces 65 liters of milk daily, which he supplies to the BRAC Chilling Center.
"I'm now financially self-reliant and living a happier life with my family," Yunus added.
Chan Mia, 58, one of the pioneers of dairy farming in the village, shared his story with BSS. He bought a Friesian cow with his own savings 22 years ago to start his farm.
