USAID agri-extension support activity project launched

KHULNA, Sept 14 (BSS): Speakers at a project launching ceremony on USAID Agricultural Extension Support Activity here said Sunday it will work alongside public and private extension agents to support smallholder farmers to improve farming practices through technical training.
The smallholder farmers will gain access to extension services and information, purchasing high quality inputs at fair prices and through trusted suppliers, financial services that meet their needs, they said.
Dhaka Ahsania Mission, in collaboration with CARE Bangladesh and Power Social Enterprise Ltd, organised the USAID Agricultural Extension Support Activity "Project Launching" programme for Khulna district at the conference room of the deputy commissioner's office in the city.
Chaired by Project Director Daniel O Coster, Deputy Director of LGED Habibul Islam Khan addressed it as the chief guest. Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Deepankar Biswas, Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension Kazi Anisuzzaman, Deputy Livestock Officer Dr Md Nizam Uddin addressed the function as special guests.
District Manager of the project Md Rafiqul Islam delivered the welcome speech while representative of CARE Kaiser Zillany displayed the project overview. The project launching ceremony was addressed, among others, by Khulna Press Club President Faruk Ahmed, General Secretary S M Zahid Hossain, regional managers of Jessore and Khulna projects Md Shawkat Ali and Md Alauddin.
During the display of project overview Kaiser Zillany said the project is working in central and southwest Bangladesh including Khulna, Barisal and Dhaka divisions.
Describing long-term objectives of the project he said it would increase household incomes, nutritional status and build food security for 0.20 million (2.0 lakh) participating farmers, strengthen agricultural extension services in Bangladesh.
Md Rafiqul Islam said the project will establish and support up to 8,000 farmer producer groups to collectively demand extension service, needed inputs, access to finance and markets.
Daniel O Coster said, "The project was directly working with extension agents throughout agricultural value chains, as we are enhancing smallholder farmers' ability to receive necessary information, training and inputs they need to become better farmers, while enabling them to sell their outputs to more formalised markets at higher prices".