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USDA Bangladesh Dairy Enhancement Program
With dairy development activities in Khulna and Rajshahi divisions of Bangladesh, the USDA Food for Progress Bangladesh Dairy Enhancement Program (BDEP) supported sustainable dairy farming, while building profitable linkages between farmers and input suppliers on the production side and with the processors on the marketing side. This was done through three main components: expanding dairy industry infrastructure, building capacity of farmers and extension agents in whole farm management, and improving availability of animal nutrition inputs. BDEP prioritized private sector engagement and partnered with three of the largest dairy companies in Bangladesh: AKIJ Food and Beverage Ltd, BRAC Dairy and Food, and PRAN Dairy Ltd. Together with our dairy company partners and Uttaran, our local NGO partner, more than 10,000 farmers were trained to improve productivity. In addition, 80 milk cooling centers were established at the village level, so that farmers receiving training sessions were linked to profitable markets.