Agriculture and Food Security Program:
Contribution of agriculture in national economy is significant and the development of Bangladesh is inherently linked to the development of agriculture. CISD believes that a comprehensive approach of integrating other programs with all agricultural interventions focusing mainly on modern and appropriate technology including quality seed production, climate change, disaster & risk management, fertilizers & pest management and marketing support can help scale up agriculture sector significantly. This in turn will improve the overall socioeconomic condition of the target farmers. With this in consideration, CISD since its beginning has progressively put special emphasis on Agriculture & Food Security program.
Goal:
To increase income and employment of ultra poor and pro-poor particularly landless, small and marginal farmers with special attention to women in rural areas through increasing productivity and production of crops, horticulture, forestry, fisheries, livestock and poultry. Agriculture and environment related programs are closely intertwined with global climate change and as well as marketing support to the farmers for fair price of products.
Objectives:
- Increase production of crops, forestry, fishery, livestock and poultry;
- Make technology, extension and marketing services available to farmers;
- Create agro-based self-employment opportunities;
- Ensure agro-based, self-financed and sustainable income generating activities;
- Make quality inputs including irrigation to farmers;
- conduct agricultural research considering the importance of environment and sustainability; and
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apply information technology and make extension and marketing services available to the farmers.
Major Projects :
a. Special Program for Food Security (SPFS) Project :
Financial assistance from Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations through Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), CISD has been implemented Special Program for Food Security Project (SPFS) Project in Nesarabad upazila of Pirojpur district from September 2003 to July 2007. Under this project CISD formed a Village Based Organization (VBO) in the project village. CISD also provided training, financial assistance to the group members. Activities of the project were as follows-
- Village Based Organization (VBO) formation;
- Institutional Capacity building;
- Savings mobilization;
- Financial assistance;
- Awareness and Skill development training; and
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Demonstration.
b. Gopalganj, Madaripur, Shariatpur and Pirojpur-Integrated Area Development Project (GMSP-IADP):
Financial assistance from Islamic Development Bank (IDB) through Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), CISD has been implemented Gopalganj, Madaripur, Shariatpur and Pirojpur-Integrated Area Development Project (GMSP-IADP) in Naria upazila of Shariatpur district from April 2003 to June 2005. Under this project CISD formed total 348 groups (148 MLG groups and 200 SFG groups) in the project period and provided training and financial support to the group members.
C. Food processing and Market Development Project:
CISD started Food Processing program by PARAG GHAR brand. Financial assistance from International Centre for Under-utilised Crops (ICUC) and DFID through Horticulture Research Center (HRC) of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), CISD has been implemented Food processing and Market Development Project in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur district for the period from 2004 to 2006. Under this project CISD provided skill development training for 125 destitute women beneficiaries.
