Farmers’ Cooperative Programme Huzurikanda (Sherpur District)

The Farmers’ Cooperative Program started in 1999, one year after MATI was registered as NGO. With only a few farmers at that time, the coop has now 553 members and can be rightfully called a success story. The benefits are:

• Rice and mustard seed storage facilities

• Support in changing to organic farming

• Being part of the MATI programme for

  • Day care

  • Pre-School

  • Primary Schooling

  • Medical support, eye care programme/cataract treatments

  • Disables child assistance

  • Carpentry vocational training

 

How does it work?

To become a member, the farmer pays 120 Taka as down payment. 100 are for general administration, 20 taka open the personal passbook. Example: The farmer asks for a loan for fish breeding and receives 10.000 taka. In weekly installments he will repay this amount plus a small amount of interest which contributes to MATI’s expenses for teachers, paramedics, the medical programmes. The loan is to repaid within a year. So far, there was no case of bankruptcy, maybe some delayed payment due to sickness or accidents, but fortunately for all, payments are being met.

The programme also enables the farmers, especially women, to become entrepreneurs themselves. With processing their own produce, such as mustard oil or chili powder, they will achieve higher prices, and a better return of investment which ultimately leads to more independence and, the ultimate goal, to self-sufficiency.