PKSF

THE MICROFINANCE AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT (MFTS)

PKSF has been implementing IFAD and GOB assisted Microfinance and Technical Support (MFTS) Project since October 2003 in 97 upazillas of 13 districts in the southern and northeastern parts of Bangladesh through its 24 POs. MFTS was designed to improve the livelihood and food security of 276,000 moderate and ultra poor households and the empowerment of women by adoption of sustainable IGA and livestock technology. The major components of the project are to provide credit, organize training for beneficiaries in livestock technology and ensure inputs to undertake livestock related income ventures. As of FY 2009, the project completed 6 years of its implementation. By FY 2009, the POs have organized 242,597 members of which 96.1% are women and 17.7% represents the ultra poor. The project has made a breakthrough in operating mini-hatcheries through an innovative poultry chain model. This has made it possible to produce day-old chicks (DOC) in remote areas. It helps to make available the inputs (fertile eggs & DOC) for establishing strengthening the linkage of different poultry related economic activities in rural areas. It also helps develop poultry chain activities including pullets, eggs, and broiler chickens in the program areas. The project organized a National Workshop on Fodder Cultivation and Artificial Insemination in May 2009. The opening session of the workshop was addressed by Mr. Mohammad Shah Alam, Secretary of Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, and Dr Nitish Chandra Debnath, Vice-Chancellor of Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Science University, as well as by Dr. Quazi Mesbahuddin Ahmed, Managing Director of PKSF. Papers were presented by PKSF Project Staff as well as by BRAC, Milk Vita, BAU, BLRI, BARI, and PKSF POs. As of June 2009, a total of 130,049 beneficiaries had been continuing livestock related IGAs. Of them 45% opted for cattle rearing, followed by 15% for poultry keeping. About 17% beneficiaries are engaged in goat rearing while 8% in beef fattening. During FY 2009, BDT 0.31 Billion loan has been disbursed to POs for on-lending to beneficiaries. POs disbursed BDT 2.40 Billion to its members, of which about 60% has been invested in livestock IGAs. Loan outstanding for the year stands at BDT 0.69 Billion for PKSF and BDT 1.26 Billion for POs respectively. The average loan for the FY 2009 was BDT 12,888.

In FY 2009, the project achieved the following: