Tauhidul Islam Tushar of Kacharipara village in Bheramara upazila, Kushtia, has built a sizeable dairy farm from a single cow. Alongside the herd he processes the milk into matha (a buttermilk drink) and ghee for sale, and the business now employs several people.

He began in 2005 with one heifer. Profits from selling its calves and milk let him expand, and the farm — Taufiq Dairy and Food Products — now keeps 15 improved-breed cows. It produces 100 to 120 litres of milk a day, at times up to 150 litres.

Milk collection, cream separation and matha making are all done by machine under hygienic conditions, with Tushar present to supervise each milking. Four workers look after the animals; fodder grass is grown beside the farm, and the cows are fed a balanced ration of straw, bran and oilcake, the workers said. A new shed under construction will be used to make curd from the farm's own milk.

Tushar said that besides selling milk he has staff sell matha in the markets around Bheramara from two carts he had built for Tk 280,000, creating two more jobs. Sales run at 40 to 80 litres of matha a day, more on Fridays, at Tk 20 a glass or Tk 140 a litre; people also come to his house to drink it. His daily income is Tk 10,000 to 12,000.

Bheramara upazila livestock officer Tarik Hasan said his office gives entrepreneurs regular technical advice and help with disease prevention, vaccination, feed management and farm operation, and that Tushar is an example he expects will bring more people into commercial livestock farming. The report is by Krishi Shomoy's Kushtia correspondent.

Source: Krishi Shomoy