Delegates from IFAD and PKSF visit SSS

A team consisting of delegates from IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development) and PKSF (Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation) paid a visit to the programs and activities of SSS on 14 March 2023 (Tuesday) as a part of the IFAD Supervision Mission. The delegation organized the daylong visit to monitor the implementation of the value chain project entitled ‘Kadarnath chicken rearing, pasteurized eggs, and safe meat-market development’ under the additional finance of the PACE program.

Members of the delegation included: Mr. Dewan Alamgir, Mission Leader (IFAD); Mr. Nabil Rahman, Country Program Analyst (IFAD); Ms. Faria Tasin, Market Linkage Specialist (IFAD); Mr. Md. Habibur Rahman, Assistant General Manager and Project Coordinator (PACE, PKSF); Mr. Md. Kamrul Islam, Value Chain Specialist (PACE, PKSF); Mr. Sumon Kumar Saha, Value Chain Project Manager (PACE, PKSF); Mr. Md. Masum Sarker, Value Chain Project Manager (PACE, PKSF); Mrs. Sanchita Islam, Value Chain Project Manager (PACE, PKSF) and Mrs. Lipi Akter, Gender and Social Inclusion Officer (RMTP, PKSF).

At 9 am on 14 March, the delegates visited a hatchery and a breeder farm of Kadarnath chicken implemented under the PACE program in Bhuapur upazila of Tangail. They also visited some commercial and family-based Kadarnath chicken-rearing farms and a few commercial indigenous chicken farms. Besides, the delegation visited a demonstration farm of insects used as chicken feed, implemented by a beneficiary in the village Bamanhata of Bhuapur. At the same time, they looked into a poultry collection center of an entrepreneur in the local market of Bhuapur at 12 pm.

At 3 pm, the delegates took part in a views-sharing meeting with the executive director of SSS at his office chamber in the foundation office. In the meeting, the visitors were introduced to and informed about the different activities of SSS and their present condition. At that time, they discussed the progress of the PACE program as well as the marketing of Kadarnath and indigenous chicken.

At 4 pm, the delegates visited the mini garments factory of Rubi Begum, an entrepreneur in village Bashakhanpur of Dainna union of Tangail Sadar upazila.

The visitors expressed satisfaction with the implemented activities of SSS and admired the role and contribution of SSS in women empowerment, employment creation, and the agro-fisheries-livestock sector in the country.

During their visit, the IFAD and PKSF team received company and overall support from the Director (Microfinance) Mr. Santosh Chandra Paul, Deputy Director (Microfinance) Mr. S. M. Yahia, zonal managers of Tangail-1 and Tangail-2 respectively Mr. Md. Nazrul Islam Khan and Mr. Md. Mohsin Reza, SAPM (Livestock) and Project Manager (PACE) Dr. Md. Masudul Alam and staffs from different sections and programs of SSS.