e-Krishok Campaign: Promoting usage of ICT in Rural Areas to Increase Productivity
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Belal Hossain is a young 19 year old poultry farmer from Sharankhola in Bagherhat. He had always dreamt of owning a business of his own, ever since he was a young boy. He got his big opportunity about three and a half years ago, when he was able to get a loan of 30 thousand Taka from his relatives and started his poultry business. Belal says that he had to struggle very hard to establish his poultry business in the beginning, but that the hard work was worth the effort. Belal earns about 60 to 70 thousand as year, from which his profit is around 10 thousand.
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What led Belal Hossain to use the e-Krishok service?
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As with most agricultural-, livestock-based businesses, Belal faced numerous problems with his poultry farm. Whenever he faces problems, he would usually go to the local agents who sold medicines, poultry feed, etc., for solutions. But the solutions from such sources are not reliable, according to Belal. Sometimes the problem is taken care of, and at times the problem remains in spite of do as instructed by the agents. Belal says there was not anything he could do other then to go to such agents and hope that the solutions provided work.
This time around, his chicken developed blood dysentery. He had 500 chickens, of which 150 died as a result of the disease. Belal was desperate to find a solution to this disease. On his way to the market, Belal heard about e-Krishok from Sirajul, the entrepreneur of the local Community Information Center (CIC). Sirajul told Belal that he could get advise, information and solutions to his agricultural, livestock and other such farming related problems. Since Belal was desperate for a solution for his dying chickens, he went to the CIC and got a solution. He was instructed to use a medicine, which he could get nearby.
After treating his chickens with the medicine, as advised, Belal noticed that the chickens started to get better. This encouraged him to continue with the treatment and within two to three days, all his chickens got better. Now, of the 350 chickens that survived, he has sold 200 and now has 150 left. Belal expects to be able to sell these in the very near future. Belal is satisfied with the e-Krishok campaign and he trusts that he will get reliable information and advice from the CIC. He is also now encouraging others to go to the CIC whenever they have any agricultural problems.
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