LIVESTOCK AND DAIRY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT INCREASE IN LIVESTOCK PRODUCTIVITY ENSURING BETTER NUTRITION FOR CITIZENS APPROVAL DATE: END DATE: TOTAL COMMITMENT: IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES: BASIC INFORMATION December 06 December 06 $500 million Department of Livestock Services (DLS) of 2018 2023 Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (MoFL) OVERVIEW Agriculture (crops, livestock, forestry and fisheries) is featured prominently in the Government of Bangladesh’s 7th Five-Year Plan and is expected to play an important role in reducing poverty and accelerating growth. This will require achieving productivity gains, diversification, value addition and agro-processing, along with climate change adaptation strategies. Livestock is an important socio-economic component of agriculture and accounts for 1.7 percent of the economy’s Gross Domestic Product. But, it employs only 14 percent of the total labor force. Over 70 percent of rural households are engaged in livestock production which contributes a large share of the smallholder and landless farmers’ livelihoods. Most poor rural households raise livestock which provide power for cropping, transport, threshing and oilseed crushing; manure, as source of fertilizer and fuel; a ready source of cash, as well as dairy and meat for consumption. Livestock provides business opportunities for smallholders. The Livestock and Dairy Development Project aims to improve livestock and dairy production in Bangladesh so that the country can meet growing demand for egg, meat and milk and thereby improve the nutritional intake of its citizens. 10 CHALLENGE TOWARDS THE FUTURE By 2020, the government aims to triple the production of livestock related products in order to feed The project will enhance the business environment and the growing population. In Bangladesh, livestock productivity is low due to poor animal husbandry facilitate trade in meat and dairy products through value practices; low penetration of high-yielding breeds; and shortage of feed and fodder. Mixed livestock chain development and addressing key bottlenecks. The production systems predominate, and animals are generally stall-fed or grazed around the homestead in project will also increase the availability of clean energy in small family-based production units. Livestock value-chains are largely informal. Livestock supply chains rural areas. It will also improve the overall ecosystem for depend on smallholder producers, who practice subsistence farming and do not have the capacity to value chain development by financing key infrastructures gain from the opportunities that a growing market demand for animal products presents. including markets, and providing access to markets, insurance and financial products and services, and capacity building for both smallholder organizations and public agencies, while supporting policy reforms APPROACH and contributing to research and knowledge. The Livestock and Dairy Development Project supports government’s plan to scale-up climate smart investments in livestock. Growth in livestock productivity potentially leads to job creation for women, youth, and other vulnerable. The project aims to improve productivity, market access, and resilience of small-holder farmers and agro-entrepreneurs operating in selected livestock value chains in target areas. For this, the project will help: (i) upgrade livestock production systems and increase productivity and efficiency; (ii) support value chain development and integration in the markets with participation of private sector; and (iii) enhance resilience of farmers and entrepreneurs to risks and shocks. Resilience will address risks related to climate, financial shocks, animal health, food safety, and zoonotic diseases. Resilience will be strengthened by mainstreaming climate smart agriculture (CSA) practices, implementing measures that improve food/feed safety, and developing livestock insurance. The project will include the following species: cattle, buffalo, goats, sheep and chicken. They are strategic for both food security and nutritional supply as well as for their comparative advantage on the regional markets and income generation potential for the farmers. EXPECTED RESULTS 500,000 farmers 35% increase in productivity 50% increase in market access 150,000 farmers and value to adopt improved of targeted species by direct through increased sales in meat and chain actors to adopt practices to agricultural technology beneficiaries dairy products and live animals improve resilience THE WORLD BANK IN BANGLADESH | 11