Piloting Dried Meat- Biltong

QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE REPORT

QUARTER 2, FY17: JANUARY 2017 – MARCH 2017 FEED THE FUTURE BANGLADESH LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION FOR IMPROVED NUTRITION PROJECT COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT # AID-388-A-15-00005 APRIL 2017

Cover Photo: Union Parishad Chairman (of Noapara Union, Jessore Sadar) was delivering speech for the livestock farmers at a jointly organized (project and DLS) Animal Health Camp in Jessore, where representatives from USAID/Bangladesh (including , AOR of the project), representatives from DLS (including District Livestock Officer and Upazila Livestock Officer), and project staff members (including , past Chief of Party) attended.

DISCLAIMER This report is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of ACDI/VOCA and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

Quarterly Performance Report: Quarter 2, FY 2017 April 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. PROJECT BACKGROUND ...... 1 2. SUMMARY OF MAJOR ACTIVITIES DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ...... 1 3. IR 1: INCREASED LIVESTOCK PRODUCTIVITY ...... 2

3.1. SUB IR 1.1: IMPROVED FODDER AND FORAGE PRODUCTION ...... 2 3.1.1. Establish Forage Demo Plots ...... 2 3.1.2. Cattle Feed Value Chain Analysis ...... 3 3.2. SUB IR 1.2: IMPROVED LIVESTOCK PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES ...... 4 3.2.1. Farmers’ Training on Livestock Rearing and Services ...... 4 3.2.2. Improved Feeding Demo for Beef Fattening ...... 4 3.2.3. Animal Health Camp ...... 5 3.2.4. Observe Livestock Service Week 2017 ...... 5 3.3. SUB IR 1.3: IMPROVED CAPACITY OF GOB AGENCIES TO PROVIDE LIVESTOCK SERVICES TO FARMERS ...... 6 3.3.1. Technical Assistance in Improved Fodder and Forage Production ...... 6 4. IR 2: IMPROVED ACCESS OF RURAL HOUSEHOLDS TO HYGIENIC, DIVERSE, AND QUALITY FOOD (FOR BOTH PROJECT SUB IRS 2.1 AND 2.2) ...... 7

4.1. MEAT PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION: PILOTING DRIED MEAT- BILTONG ...... 7 4.2. DEMONSTRATION OF DAIRY PRODUCTS ...... 7 4.3. FLASH CARDS DEVELOPMENT...... 8 5. IR 3: IMPROVED NUTRITION RELATED BEHAVIORS OF RURAL HOUSEHOLDS ...... 8

5.1. SUB IR 3.1: INCREASED AWARENESS AND ADOPTION OF NUTRITION PRACTICES...... 8 6. CROSSCUTTING ...... 8

6.1. FORMING WOMEN ENTREPRENEUR FORUM ...... 8 6.2. TRAINING FOR STAFF MEMBERS ...... 9 6.2.1. Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning Training Workshop for Technical Staff Members...... 9 6.2.2. Gender Sensitivity Training ...... 9 6.3. INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATION ...... 10 6.4. M&E PLAN AND DATA COLLECTION TOOLS ...... 10 6.5. CAPACITY BUILDING OF FARMERS, PARTNERS AND VOLUNTEERS...... 10 7. INTERIM STRATEGY TO REACH FARMERS IN ABSENCE OF PARTNER ...... 10 8. LEARNING AND ADAPTATION ...... 11 9. MAJOR ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR THE NEXT QUARTER ...... 12 ANNEX 1: QUARTERLY REPORT OF TAMU ...... 13 ANNEX 2: BARRIER ANALYSIS ...... 13 ANNEX 3: GUIDELINE FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP FORUM ...... 13 ANNEX 4: CASE STUDY ...... 13 ANNEX 5: GANTT CHART ...... 13

i Quarterly Performance Report: Quarter 2, FY 2017 April 2017 LIST OF TABLES

TABLE 1. LAND AREA OF FORAGE DEMO ON INDIVIDUAL AND GOVERNMENT PLOTS DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ...... 3 TABLE 2: LAND AREA OF FORAGE NURSERY ON INDIVIDUAL PLOTS DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ...... 3 TABLE 3: FARMERS RECEIVED TRAINING AND SERVICES ...... 4 TABLE 4: SERVICES PROVIDED IN ANIMAL HEALTH CAMPS...... 5 TABLE 5. CAPACITY BUILDING OF PARTICIPANTS ...... 10 TABLE 6: LEARNING AND ADAPTATION ...... 11

LIST OF PHOTOS

Quarterly Performance Report: Quarter 2, FY 2017 April 2017 ACRONYMS

ACI Advanced Chemical Industries ACME Accelerating Capacity for Monitoring and Evaluation AI Artificial Insemination AMEL Activity Monitoring and Evaluation BLRI Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute CDCS Country Development Cooperation Strategy DLS Department of Livestock Services DQA Data Quality Assessment FC Field Coordinator FTF Feed the Future GoB Government of Bangladesh IBTCI International Business and Technical Consultants, Inc. IR Intermediate Result IWD International Women’s Day M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MEL Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning MOFL Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock MOU Memorandum of Understanding NGO Nongovernmental Organization PIRS Performance Indicator Reference Sheet PLA Participatory Learning and Action PSE Private Sector Entrepreneur SBCC Social Behavior Change Communication ToT Training of Trainers USAID United States Agency for International Development VHW Village Health Worker ZOI Zone of Influence

Quarterly Performance Report: Quarter 2, FY 2017 April 2017 1. PROJECT BACKGROUND

Feed the Future (FTF) Bangladesh Livestock Production for Improved Nutrition project aims to increase livestock productivity for improved nutrition, and income generation towards rural communities in the Zone of Influence (ZOI). The five-year project (2015-2020) consists of three key components- livestock productivity; access of rural households to hygienic, diverse, and quality food, especially for women and children; and nutrition awareness and practices. The project engages with a range of market actors to support increased livestock productivity through improved management practices and technologies. The project also promotes improved nutrition behaviors for rural households with proper nutrition education and practices on hygienic, diverse and quality food for family nutrition. Finally, the project assists the Government of Bangladesh’s livestock agencies to improve their capacity to provide services to farmers. The project directly targets 82,000 cattle-owning households and approximately 579,882 households indirectly across the ZOI. The project’s main targets are: (i) to increase dairy cattle milk yields by 300 percent, (ii) reduce the number of days for beef cattle to attain market weight by 60 percent, and (iii) 40% increase in milk consumption and 25% increase in meat consumption. To achieve these targets, the project is working through an extensive network of private sector entrepreneurs (PSEs), village health workers (VHWs), participating dairies, and relevant community-based networks to deliver messaging and training designed to improve utilization of livestock products and household nutrition. 2. SUMMARY OF MAJOR ACTIVITIES DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD

Major activities of second quarter of FY 2017 were as follows: Intermediate Result (IR)- 1: Increased Livestock Productivity  The project provided cascade training though PSEs on livestock rearing and services to 120 farmers (of which 94 were female).  Farmers established nine forage demonstration sites on a total of 0.31 hectares of private lands.  Three farmers (2 female) have started nurseries on 0.45 hectares of private land that will help in establishing market linkages for access to forage markets and help to reduce supply gaps in the forage value chain. In addition, the nurseries provide quality green fodder to the farmers for feeding their cattle.  Five farmers (3 female) started improved feeding demos for beef fattening.  The project jointly organized 14 animal health camps with Department of Livestock Services (DLS) and provided vaccination services to 3,646 animals during the reporting period with the assistance of local DLS officials.  The project trained 12 scientists (3 female) of Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) on fodder production capacity.  The team received a revised draft report of the nationwide cattle feed value chain analysis study from the contracted firm, ChangeMaker, which will be finalized in the upcoming quarter. The team will hold a meeting with various donors and implementing partners after finalizing the report to share the results.  The project observed Livestock Service Week jointly with DLS of Khulna Division.

IR 2: Improved Access of Rural Households to Hygienic, Diverse and Quality Food  Based on the findings of the desk research report on global practices of milk and meat preservation in rural areas, the project selected to pilot one dried meat product, Biltong, in the project area.  The project arranged one demonstration on producing milk products, where 113 participants attended (112 female).  The project developed flash cards on four milk products- ghee, yogurt, cheese, and laban.

IR 3: Improved Nutrition Related Behaviors of Rural Households  The team finalized a barrier analysis report on the major barriers towards consuming dairy and meat products in the ZOI.

1 Quarterly Performance Report: Quarter 2, FY 2017 April 2017

Crosscutting:  The project has finalized a guideline to form a women entrepreneur forum. The project also formed three women entrepreneur forums, one from each of the three implementing Districts- Jessore, Khulna, and Satkhira.  The project celebrated International Women’s Day at District level and at the Livestock and Nutrition project offices.  The project conducted a two-day gender sensitivity training for staff members focusing on way forward. The training helped staff members review whether current activities are gender sensitive.  The project also conducted a four-day monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) training workshop to the staff members focusing on Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) plan, data collection tools and M&E activities.  The project submitted a revised version of the M&E plan to USAID/Bangladesh based on the first Data Quality Assessment (DQA) findings and revised FTF indicators handbook. This M&E plan needs further revision, as USAID/Bangladesh provided guidelines for developing M&E plans as Activity Monitoring and Evaluation (AMEL) plans after the original submission.  The project finalized data collection tools and protocols. 3. IR 1: INCREASED LIVESTOCK PRODUCTIVITY

3.1. Sub IR 1.1: Improved Fodder and Forage Production

3.1.1. ESTABLISH FORAGE DEMO PLOTS The project facilitated the establishment of nine forage demonstration plots and three nurseries in farmers’ fields, with guidance and collaboration from BLRI and DLS. The demonstration plots were established on 0.31 hectares and nurseries on 0.45 hectares of private lands during the reporting period. The project used the plots to demonstrate methodologies and cultivation practices of high yielding forage varieties for farmers. The objectives of establishing nurseries are to promote forage cultivation on a commercial scale where other farmers will buy green fodder to provide their cattle, fodder cutting for cultivating in their own land, as well as to establish market linkages. Table 1 and Table 2 describe the progress of the forage demonstration and nurseries. The project also arranged two result-demonstration events where 52 livestock farmers (of which 23 were female) from neighboring areas attended. They learned about the importance of cultivation technologies, sources of seed and techniques for cutting of high yielding forage. The project will organize more result- demonstration events in the next quarter. It is expected that 25 to 30 farmers will attend each result-demonstration event. Dr. of Borlaug Institute, a partner of the project, visited project areas to observe some demonstration plots, and expressed his satisfaction on the process of disseminating forage Photo 1: A Forage Demo Plot at Satkhira cultivation methodologies and practices.

Quarterly Performance Report: Quarter 2, FY 2017 April 2017 4. IR 2: IMPROVED ACCESS OF RURAL HOUSEHOLDS TO HYGIENIC, DIVERSE, AND QUALITY FOOD (FOR BOTH 2.1 & 2.2) 4.1. Meat Processing and Preservation: Piloting Dried Meat- Biltong

Meat plays an important role as a high protein food in most cultures and societies. In rural Bangladesh, community people generally do not buy meat or slaughter animals, except on special occasions. To increase consumption of meat products, the project emphasizes drying meat so that villagers can consume meat over a longer period. The project also took initiative to train small processors on drying meat by using improved technology so that people can easily get small quantities of dried meat in packets. Based on the findings of the desk research report on global practices of milk and meat preservation in rural areas, the project selected to pilot one dried meat processing technology, Biltong, in the project area. Because it has a longer shelf-life than fresh meat and the nutritional aspect, Biltong will introduce new processing methods for drying meats and introduce new products that could be adopted by local processors. To develop these dried meat products with local taste and flavor, the project completed the first trial in a Biltong box. A local manufacturer from Jessore developed this electric drier, which has the options of drying lean meat using temperature from 250 C to 800 C for certain periods to make products with desired hardness or crispness. From the first trial, the project decided to conduct another trial to create a product with local preferences of Photo 7: A Biltong box built in taste and flavor. Jessore 4.2. Demonstration of Dairy Products

One demonstration on producing dairy products was organized on March 29, 2017 at the community level in Keshabpur Upazila in Jessore. The objective of this demonstration was to introduce options for processing milk-based products to the community for their own consumption. This training introduced options for small business, income and employment as well. The participants learned improved technologies for production, processing and preservation while addressing quality, hygiene and safety issues. A total of 113 participants (of which 112 were female) attended including school teachers, farmers, and social leaders. During the demonstration, the participants practiced production, preservation and packaging of three milk products (ghee, yogurt, and laban). A local female Photo 8: Demo on producing, processing, and preserving dairy products at processor facilitated the demo session guided by the Jessore Livestock and Nutrition Team Lead for Food Science. The participants showed interest in producing dairy products for their household consumption, while a few of them were interested in starting small businesses to create these products for sale. The project will closely work with them to monitor outcomes of the training.

7 Quarterly Performance Report: Quarter 2, FY 2017 April 2017 4.3. Flash Cards Development

The project developed flash cards on four milk products– ghee, yogurt, cheese, and laban, explaining their respective production processes. The objectives of these communication materials are to introduce diversified, improved processing and preservation technologies to the community, increase consumption of milk-based products, and create options for dairy product businesses. Others project stakeholders, especially PSEs and nutrition workers, will use those cards during their regular household visits and session facilitations. 5. IR 3: IMPROVED NUTRITION RELATED BEHAVIORS OF RURAL HOUSEHOLDS

5.1. Sub IR 3.1: Increased Awareness and Adoption of Nutrition Practices

The project completed formative research to examine major barriers to consuming dairy and red meat products in the project area. A third party, Pathways Consulting Services Limited, was selected through a competitive procurement process to collect field data for the analysis. With support from related technical staff from headquarters, the project completed the analysis and report. During the analysis process, the project conducted a four-day consultative and participatory barrier analysis training workshop to delineate the action points revealed from the field data. Recommendations from this report will serve as a guide to determine adjustment to current activities or additional activities across all three components. The report with key findings is enclosed in Annex- 2. The key, recommended next steps from the study are:  Focus groups on media dissemination—There needs to be analysis to identify the key influencing actors, institutions, and communication mediums that will be most effective in disseminating these messages.  Further network analysis of social institutions—The project needs to identify best communication mediums for messaging.  Social network strengthening—During trainings and knowledge exchange, there should always be an emphasis on strengthening relationships amongst beneficiaries.  Further market analysis on income and affordability—There needs to be investigation into the market realities, and what possible activities may exist or what, if anything, can be done about lowering costs of dairy and meat products.  Holistic household approach to interventions—While there have been some differences in the perceptions of the benefits of dairy and meat consumption between men and women, further interventions may consider targeting entire families and households.

During the next reporting quarter, the project will finalize how to incorporate some of this messaging, integrating all IRs, along with gender. The project is delineating the channels of disseminating messages. Finally, the project will hire a third party to design and develop the tools (e.g., audio-visual materials, folk song script, awareness session cards, drama script, pocket book, poster, and so on) to help with message dissemination. 6. CROSSCUTTING

6.1. Forming Women Entrepreneur Forum

The project has finalized guidelines to form women entrepreneur forums, which can be found in Annex- 3 of this report. The project also formed three women entrepreneur forums, one from each of the three implementing Districts- Jessore, Khulna, and Satkhira. The project conducted farmers’ training for the 60 women participants (of which 21 are from Jessore, 21 from Khulna, and 18 from Satkhira) of those forums.

Quarterly Performance Report: Quarter 2, FY 2017 April 2017 9. MAJOR ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR THE NEXT QUARTER

The approved Gantt chart is enclosed with this report in Annex- 5.

12 Quarterly Performance Report: Quarter 2, FY 2017 April 2017 ANNEX 1: QUARTERLY REPORT OF TAMU

This annex is enclosed with this report. ANNEX 2: BARRIER ANALYSIS

This annex is enclosed with this report. ANNEX 3: GUIDELINE FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP FORUM

This annex is enclosed with this report. ANNEX 4: CASE STUDY

This annex is enclosed with this report. ANNEX 5: GANTT CHART

This annex is enclosed with this report.