Kashimpur: Over the past two decades, about 200 families in Kashimpur village, located about four kilometers northeast of the district’s Pirganj upazila town, have changed their fortunes by producing milk at home. Backyard dairy farming in the village has actually become a profitable family enterprise, with every typical household having at least three to five dairy cows, while well-off farmers have 15 or more dairy cows.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the villagers are producing about 16,000 liters of milk daily and selling it mainly to the local BRAC Chilling Center and three other private sector milk purchasing centers and a Milk Vita purchasing center located in nearby Pirganj Upazila Township. Local residents, most of whom are small and marginal farmers, have also cultivated hybrid varieties of grasses such as Napier, ‘Pakchung’, Sweet Jumbo, and maize on about 45 acres of land in the village for livestock feed.
Local villagers recently explained that about 23 years ago, some people initially started rearing cattle on their own initiative in a scattered manner. Witnessing their success, neighbors were inspired to follow suit, earning good profits by rearing cows, producing milk, and selling the same. Within a few years, every family in the village started rearing cows, grabbing the attention of the Pirganj Upazila Department of Livestock (DLS) and local administration officials.
Local farmer Yunus Ali, who started with one milk-giving cow 11 years ago, now milks 70 liters from his six cows daily, delivering it to the nearby BRAC Chilling Center. Yunus credits his wife, Dulali Begum, for helping manage their small dairy farm, which has led to self-reliance for their family. His father, Abdul Monnaf, mother, Parul Begum, and elder brother, Hazrat Ali, are also engaged in dairy farming.
Chan Mia, a pioneer in Kashimpur’s dairy farming, bought a Friesian cow 23 years ago to start his venture. With support from the DLS, he expanded his farm, involving his sons Shahin and Swadhin Mia. He now sells 125 liters of milk daily from 13 lactating cows to local centers. Chan Mia and his wife, Shahana Begum, have achieved financial self-reliance, purchasing land and building a house.
Pirganj Upazila Livestock Officer Dr. Md Fazlul Kabir noted the transformation visible upon entering Kashimpur: farms filled with Friesian, ‘Shahiwal’, Holston, Jersey, and other dairy cow species. Villagers remain busy cutting grass, washing cows, and ensuring timely milk delivery. Kabir remarked that the villagers have set an example of achieving self-reliance and changing their destiny through increased milk production.