Traidcraft Exchange Bangladesh and Bikash Bangladesh jointly organized a workshop in Dhaka recently to share the learning and best practices of EqualiTEA III Project funded by UKaid.
Ruhidas Jodder, additional secretary of commerce ministry, was present as the chief guest. Officials of Traidcraft Exchange Bangladesh and Bikash Bangladesh were also present on that half-day long workshop.
Kaizen CRS, a research-based consulting firm, has presented the final findings, results, impacts, and leanings from the project.
Traidcraft started their 1st pilot project under the EqualiTEA programme in 2011 to introduce and promote small scale tea growing system (STGs) in the northern districts of Panchagarh and Thakurgaon, which had been a manga affected area for years.
Though the acidic soil of that agro-ecological zone is problematic for many crops, it was perfect for tea cultivation.
After the pilot initiative had been a tremendous success, Traidcraft Exchange Bangladesh started to promote small tea growing for sustainable livelihood of 1,500 smallholder farming households (7,500 people) in Thakurgaon and Panchagarh Districts.
The project has played a vital role in bringing a visible change in the poor farmers living. The project supported small and marginal farmers on north Bangladesh to grow tea in their barren or semi barren small piece of land so that they could come out of poverty sustainably.
Findings from the projects suggest that by growing tea an ultra-poor household (in 33 decimal of land) cannot only come out of poverty for generations but also become affluent.
Evaluation results from the study by KAIZEN suggested that the project has not only achieved the planned target but also has surpassed the target in most of the predefined indicators.
The farmers have improved their average annual income by 110% than that identified during baseline study.
Additional income has provided the farmers household with extra disposable income which is helping them to make a better living.