Annual Progress Report: Livestock and Nutrition Activity (FY 18–19)

The activity aimed to improve the productivity of livestock and increase access to nutritious food for rural households in Bangladesh. The activity was implemented in 12 districts, with a focus on increasing the production and availability of dairy products, improving the capacity of the Government of Bangladesh to provide livestock services to farmers, and enhancing the nutrition-related behaviors of rural households. Improved fodder and forage production was a key area of focus, with the activity supporting the establishment of 1,200 hectares of improved pastures and the distribution of 10,000 fodder seedlings to farmers. Additionally, the activity provided training to 2,500 farmers on improved livestock practices and technologies, resulting in a 25% increase in milk production among program participants. The activity also strengthened the capacity of the Government of Bangladesh to provide livestock services to farmers, with 500 government officials receiving training on livestock management and extension services. The activity also focused on improving access to hygienic, diverse, and quality food for rural households. Training was provided to 1,500 farmers on hygienic handling, processing, and storage of diversified dairy products, resulting in a 30% increase in the availability of diverse dairy products in the market. The activity also supported the establishment of 20 dairy cooperatives, which provided access to credit, training, and market information to dairy farmers. The activity implemented a range of social and behavior change communication strategies to raise awareness about nutrition behaviors among rural households. These included training on hygienic, diverse, and quality meat, milk, and dairy consumption behavior development, household nutrition and hygiene campaigns, and the celebration of National Nutrition Week and World Milk Day. The activity also supported the development of promotional materials for new platforms and awareness campaigns at Qurbani cattle markets. The activity established partnerships with a range of stakeholders, including input suppliers, financial institutions, and market actors. These partnerships provided access to inputs, finance, markets, and information for dairy farmers and cooperatives. The activity also made significant progress on gender integration, with women farmers participating in decision-making processes and engaging in income-generating activities. The activity also supported the development of gender-sensitive social and behavior change communication materials and the celebration of International Women's Day. The activity implemented a robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning plan, which included beneficiary and household profiling, participatory planning and review meetings, and data collection tools. The activity also conducted a USAID data quality assessment and strengthened its effectiveness through monitoring and collaborating, learning, and adapting. The activity reported several successes, including increased milk production, improved fodder and forage production, and enhanced nutrition-related behaviors among rural households. However, the activity also faced several challenges, including limited access to finance and markets, and the need for further strengthening of the capacity of the Government of Bangladesh to provide livestock services to farmers.