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Draft Baseline Survey Report

“Sustainable Livelihoods for 1500 Smallholder

Farming Households (7,500 People) in the Extreme

North of Bangladesh”(Equalitea III) Project

Submitted by

Innovision Consulting Private Limited

Research | Technical Assistance | Project Management

ii

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

June 06, 2016

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Kazi Shahed H Ferdous

Country Director

Traidcraft Exchange (TX)

Apartment-5/A, House-11

Road-13(New), Dhanmondi R/A,

Dhaka-1209, Bangladesh

Re: Final Report on the Baseline Study of “Sustainable livelihoods for 1,500 smallholder

farming households (7,500 people) in the extreme north of Bangladesh” (EqualiTEA III)

Project

Dear Mr. Ferdous

Innovision Consulting Private Limited is pleased to submit the draft report on the baseline

study of “Sustainable livelihoods for 1,500 smallholder farming households (7,500 people) in

the extreme north of Bangladesh” (EqualiTEA III) Project. As always, we have put in careful

efforts in ensuring the highest quality in research design, implementation, and report

presentation.

We hope that the findings will be helpful to your team in terms of future decision on the

activities of the project. We thank you for your support and cooperation.

Sincerely,

Sadruddin Imran Chairman & CEO Innovision Consulting Level 6 Suite 106 House 62 Road 3 Block B Niketon, Gulshan-1 Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh

Baseline Study of “EqualiTEA II: Pro-poor Market Access for Small Tea Growers for Sustainable livelihoods” Project iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This document was developed by Innovision Consulting Private Limited under the

“Sustainable livelihoods for 1,500 smallholder farming households (7,500 people) in the

extreme north of Bangladesh” (EqualiTEA III) Project managed by Traidcraft Exchange.

We acknowledge the support provided by Mr. Kazi Shahed H Ferdous- Country Director,

Traidcraft Bangladesh and Ms. Ismat Jahan- Project Advisor, Traidcraft Bangladesh who

provided consistent supervision and guidance on the report.

We thank the implementation team of Bikash Bangladesh for facilitating the field assessment.

We acknowledge the contribution of all the reviewers of the draft report who took the time in

providing feedback that helped in the development of this work. We also thank all the

respondents and the local communities who gave their valuable time to the research team and

helped in the obtaining of area specific information that helped shape the report.

Baseline Study of “EqualiTEA II: Pro-poor Market Access for Small Tea Growers for Sustainable livelihoods” Project iv

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

AWD Advanced Wet and Dry

BDT Bangladesh Taka

BTB Bangladesh Tea Board

BTRI Bangladesh Tea Research Institute

DAE Department of Agricultural Extension

DCM Decimal

DLO District Livestock Office

FGD Focus Group Discussion

GPF Gratuity Provident Fund

HSC Higher Secondary Certificate

ICM Integrated Crop Management

IPM Integrated Pest Management

KG Kilogram

KII Key Informant Interview

LFW Logical Framework

NGO Non-Governmental Organization

OVI Objectively Verifiable Indicator

SSC Secondary School Certificate

STG Small Tea Grower

TX Traidcraft Exchange

ULO Upazilla Livestock Office

Baseline Study of “EqualiTEA II: Pro-poor Market Access for Small Tea Growers for Sustainable livelihoods” Project v

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Project Name Sustainable livelihoods for 1,500 smallholder farming households (7,500 people) in the extreme north of Bangladesh (EqualiTEA III)

Project Location Bangladesh – Panchagarh District (Tetulia and Panchagarh Sadar sub-district) and Thakurgaon District (Baliadangi sub-district)

Project Duration 36 months (from October 2015to September 2018)

Project Budget £614,565

Donors UK AID

Implementing Agency and Partners

The project is managed by Traidcraft Exchange (TX) and co-implemented by Bikash Bangladesh1

The EQUALITEA III project plans to support small and marginal farmers in Northern

Bangladesh to grow tea to give farmers a diversified, sustainable source of income and reduce

poverty. The project will work with 1,500 small and marginal households in Panchagarh

(Tetulia and Panchagarh Sadar sub-district) and Thakurgaon District (Baliadangi sub-district)

area. The project aims to build an inclusive value chain and to encourage smallholder farmers

to work collectively and collaboratively.

Innovision Consulting were contracted to conduct a baseline study of the households targeted

by the project. The baseline study aims to provide an independently assessed information

base relevant to the project against which the project’s progress and effectiveness can be

monitored and assessed during the implementation of the project’s activities and after the

completion of the project. The study has attempted to capture the current condition of the

project beneficiaries against all the Objectively Verifiable Indicators (OVIs) up to the output

level (which are relevant to the beneficiaries) of the Logical Frame Work Analysis (LFA)

document. The study also provides useful background detail on the project recipients which

may help inform future project design and approach. A summary of the findings related to

these indicators can be found at the end of the executive summary section.

The methodology used for the study involved both primary and secondary research. Primary

research consisted of Sample survey, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Focus Group

Discussions (FGDs) and Case Studies.

Innovision developed a questionnaire tool on the basis of the terms of reference (ToR)

supplied by Traidcraft for the IDIs. Data from 199 respondents was analysed. Innovision also

undertook 12 FGDs and 18 KIIs evenly divided across the three sub-districts. A scoping study

was carried out to test and refine all tools which were used with sample respondents from the

project areas. Our gender consultant also provided input to ensure that the tools used were

gender-sensitive and gender-aware.

Baseline Study of “EqualiTEA II: Pro-poor Market Access for Small Tea Growers for Sustainable livelihoods” Project vi

For the secondary research, Innovision has reviewed key project documents such as project

proposal, ToR for the study, logical framework, list of target beneficiaries and project

stakeholders. Innovision Consulting also made use of its own repository of agricultural

knowledge and expertise in-house.

Findings reveal that the average age was 39 for male respondents and 34 for female

respondents. About 77% of male and 88% of female respondents have literacy below

Secondary School Certificate level and 16% of male respondents and 26.3% of female

respondents are illiterate. The average family size is 5 persons, and each family has one man

and one woman who generate income on average. Two thirds of families have school-going

children. The vast majority (92.5%) of respondents are Bengali Muslims, with the remaining

largely being Hindu, or indigenous peoples (Santal).

All respondents conduct agricultural farming. Agriculture is the primary source of income for

60% of surveyed households, with other respondents saying their primary income was from

working as a day laborer2 (25%), in their own business (8.5%), in a full-time job3 (2.5%), as an

auto-rickshaw/rickshaw puller (2.5%), as a private tutor (1%) or as a homeopathic practitioner

(0.5%).

Farmers stated that they had diverse sources of income with 77% having secondary sources

of income other than just agriculture. Day labor was the most common secondary source of

income. According to our Focus Group Discussion, women are paid less (BDT 50 to 100) for

agricultural day labor than men. The average agricultural day labor wage for men is BDT250-

300 but only BDT 200 for women. Stone extracting is a job done exclusively by men and pay

is based on the amount of stone collected. In practice the amount received will range from

BDT 500 – 700. Stone crushing is similarly based on the square feet of stone crushed- but

this activity is undertaken by both men and women. A man or woman working at stone crushing

for a day could expect to earn between BDT 300 and 500.

The mean income for all respondents was BDT 89,412 (median BDT 87,900). In Tetulia, the

mean income for respondents was highest at BDT 96,755 (median BDT 96,095). Panchagarh

had a mean income of 89,278 (median 90,275) while Baliadangi had the lowest mean income

of 83,119 (median 77,485).

Households reported their top priority for expenditure was food which accounted for 54.7% of

their expenditure. Other elements of their expenditure included loan repayments (9.0%),

medicine/health costs (6.5%), children’s education (6.2%), clothing (5.8%) and entertainment

(5.3%).

Half of respondents had savings of some sort, with two thirds of those with savings using

‘micro-savings’ schemes. However, findings from the FGD suggest that most of those using

micro-savings schemes are forced to do so under the terms of a micro-credit loan they have

taken. It is questionable then whether these should really be considered as savings- since the

farmers can only access the money once the loan is repaid. This money does not therefore

2Day laborer responses were predominantly stone workers and agricultural workers on other people’s land. 3Such as working for a local NGO.

Baseline Study of “EqualiTEA II: Pro-poor Market Access for Small Tea Growers for Sustainable livelihoods” Project vii

fulfill the function of providing protection from income shocks- since it cannot be accessed

when it is needed.

Just under a third (29%) of respondents with savings use a fixed deposit account in banks like

RAKUB and Agrani Bank. These are conventional savings which yield a rate of interest and

money can be withdrawn when needed (although there may be a penalty of interest lost for

early withdrawal). Respondents were also asked whether they had any other kind of safety

measure apart from savings. Most (69%) said that they did- but their responses tended to

involve selling assets such as the sale of a cow (55.8%) or land (32.6%).

Access to loans was found to be almost universal (98%) although fewer (41%) actually have

an outstanding loan at the time of the project. By far the most popular source of loans was

micro-credit organizations (78%) followed by commercial banks (18%). The most popular loan

providers were ASA (31%), Grameen (21%) and BRAC (15%).

The average amount of an outstanding loan is BDT 21,162. About half of these loans are used

for agricultural investment (49%) while other popular uses are business (15%), purchase/lease

land (14%) and build/maintain housing (13%). Those with a regular income stream (such as

day laborers) appear to prefer micro-credit schemes which require weekly installments and

have a lower rate of interest than money lenders. Detailed figures were not collected- but the

FGDs suggest micro-credit interest rates of approximately 12.5-15%. The interest rates for

money lenders can be much higher- one case study respondent claimed to be paying an

interest rate of 120%. Money lenders however enable farmers to borrow and repay once they

have gathered their harvest. Early marriage is prevalent within all three regions and daughters

tend to be married off between fourteen and eighteen years of age. Dowries are common and

can cost from BDT 20,000 to BDT 100,000 – many respondents have to borrow to afford these

costs.

The role of women in income generation may differ between Baliadangi and the other two

regions, Panchagarh and Tetulia. Although the sample was small, it suggested that in

Baliadangi women tend to work in agriculture doing activities such as planting, weeding and

harvesting in their own fields. By contrast- in Tetulia and Panchagarh, women may tend to

work as laborers (stone sorting/conveying) or as tailors. This might be because of cultural

differences as Baliadangi has a higher proportion of Hindus- and may be more comfortable

with women working in the fields. In all communities, it is predominantly women who do post-

harvest related activities. Women stated that they do not have full control over the income they

earn as day labor- however they also said that earning an income makes them feel more

empowered and accepted within the family.

Rice is the most common crop grown- and the vast majority is Aman rice. Wheat is also very

common in Baliadangi and in Panchagarh to a lesser extent. The average cultivable land per

respondent was 131 decimals in Baliadangi, 110 decimals in Panchagarh and 109 decimals

in Tetulia. Farmers consistently claimed that agriculture is not profitable but that they are

forced to grow crops because purchasing food would be even more expensive. Most farmers

do not use improved cultivation techniques or integrated pest management except for a few

common techniques such as placing sticks or bushes near fields to attract birds to naturally

reduce pests. Most farmers had little knowledge of tea cultivation although some have friends,

relatives or neighbors who have grown tea.

Baseline Study of “EqualiTEA II: Pro-poor Market Access for Small Tea Growers for Sustainable livelihoods” Project viii

Farmers do not currently have any membership of collective groups. They expressed a clear

preference for groups to provide them with knowledge on collective selling (80%), tea

cultivation techniques (60%) and livestock rearing training (50%). Other popular preferences

were to provide tea saplings (39%), irrigation facilities (39%), and tea leaf marketing (24%).

Farmers are generally unaware of the services the Government of Bangladesh is supposed

to provide and do not have access to these services. They also have little faith in public sector

service providers and complained that Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) officials

rarely visited and (Sub-Assistant Agricultural Officers) SAAOs were hard to find when solutions

are needed. Instead they tend to rely on the private sector particularly input sellers who may

give them incorrect information and sometimes have perverse incentives to do so.

Generally speaking farmers are open to crop and income diversification and were keen to

begin the project and grow tea. There was greater enthusiasm for tea growing in Panchagarh

and Tetulia than in Baliadangi however because there are small holder tea growers available

in Panchagarh and Tetulia. Nevertheless most respondents were confident that tea growing

represented a good opportunity for their livelihood, particularly since it would utilize land that

might otherwise be left fallow and because they see it as much more profitable than traditional

crops.

Baseline Study of “EqualiTEA II: Pro-poor Market Access for Small Tea Growers for Sustainable livelihoods” Project ix

Summary of Baseline Survey Results for Logical Framework Logframe Indicator Indicator Description Baseline Value

Impact Indicator 1

Percentage change in the proportion of population below national poverty line in target districts (or region depending on information available)

No data collected. (Already existing figure for baseline)

Outcome Indicator 1 Average increase in annual household income of target farmer households

(2015) Overall Household income- BDT 89,412 Panchagarh- BDT 89,278 Tetulia- BDT 96,755 Baliadangi- BDT 83,119 (all figures are mean)

Outcome Indicator 2 Number of farmers who perceive an improvement in their wellbeing

No data collected.

Output Indicator 1.1

Number of farmer groups that are negotiating with local government and local tea companies/factories for better services and support

0

Output Indicator 1.2 Proportion of target households that perceive benefits from group membership

0

Output Indicator 2.1 Average yield (in kg) of tea (before processing) per acre

0

Output Indicator 2.2 Proportion of target household income earned from tea cultivation

0

Output Indicator 3.1 Proportion of target households that are satisfied with the services/support provided by barefoot service providers

0


Number of households assisted with agricultural services

14.1% (28/199) These are comprised of: Govt Institutions such as DAE and Livestock (13), MFI (8), Anondo School (2), Krishi Bank: (2), Union Parishad (1), Agroni Bank (1), Tea Factory (1).


Number of acres (tea and non-tea) benefiting from agricultural improvements (fertilizers, irrigation etc.)

Respondents saying they used this: Soil Test – 0% Organic Fertilizer – 93% Planting bush/stick – 21.1% Pheromone Trap – 0% Leaf Color Chart – 0% Improved Irrigation – 0.5% Advanced Wet & Dry – 0% Follow advice of local agricultural officers on amount of fertilizer used – 5.5%

Baseline Study of “EqualiTEA II: Pro-poor Market Access for Small Tea Growers for Sustainable livelihoods” Project x


Proportion of target households that have adopted a new income-generating activity (in addition to tea)

0%. But note that 77% of households already have an additional income-generating activity.

Output Indicator 4.2 Amount of savings mobilized from target households

0

Output Indicator 4.3 A group savings and investment fund is available to invest in new income-generating activities

0

Baseline Study of “EqualiTEA II: Pro-poor Market Access for Small Tea Growers for Sustainable livelihoods” Project xi

Table of Contents

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL ....................................................................................................................... ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................................................ iii

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ......................................................................................................... iv

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................ v

List of Tables .........................................................................................................................................xiv

List of Figures ........................................................................................................................................xiv

1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 16

1.1. Background of the Project .................................................................................................... 16

1.2. Objective of the Baseline Study ............................................................................................ 17

2. METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................................ 18

2.1. Desk Review .......................................................................................................................... 18

2.2. Tools Development (Sample Size, Sampling and Questionnaire) ......................................... 18

2.3. Sampling Technique .............................................................................................................. 19

2.4. Questionnaire Development ................................................................................................. 19

2.5. Field Investigation ................................................................................................................. 19

2.6. Data Collection ...................................................................................................................... 20

2.7. Data Processing, Data Analysis and Preparation of Baseline Report .................................... 20

3. BASELINE DATA ............................................................................................................................. 21

3.1. General Information ............................................................................................................. 21

Target Respondents ............................................................................................................ 21

Age Group .......................................................................................................................... 21

Educational Background ..................................................................................................... 22

Family Size and Number of Income Generating Members .................................................... 22

Ethnic Minority and Female Headed Household .................................................................. 23

Agriculture ......................................................................................................................... 24

3.2. Economic Status of the Beneficiaries .................................................................................... 25

3.2.1 Household Income ............................................................................................... 25

3.2.2 Household Expenditure ........................................................................................ 29

3.2.3 Household Expenditure- Ethnic Minority and Female Headed Household .............. 31

3.2.4 Savings ................................................................................................................ 32

3.2.5 Credit/Loan ......................................................................................................... 33

3.3. Gender Involvement ............................................................................................................. 34

Baseline Study of “EqualiTEA II: Pro-poor Market Access for Small Tea Growers for Sustainable livelihoods” Project xii

3.4. Agricultural Practices and Status of Production ................................................................... 36

Agricultural Practices .......................................................................................................... 36

Status of Production: .......................................................................................................... 38

Tea Related knowledge ....................................................................................................... 40

3.5. Existing Market and Relationship with Various Market Actors ............................................ 41

3.6. Existing Producers’ Groups in the Project Vicinity and Group Activities .............................. 42

3.7. Policy and Services ................................................................................................................ 43

Knowledge on the availability of Government Services ........................................................ 43

Services Rendered by Various Agencies ............................................................................... 44

3.8. Vulnerability from Natural Disasters .................................................................................... 45

4. CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................................... 47

Annex 1 Focus Group Discussion Summary .......................................................................................... 48

4.1. Module 1: Status of Income and Expenditure ...................................................................... 49

Sadar Upazilla, Panchagarh ................................................................................................. 49

Tetulia Upazilla, Panchagarh ............................................................................................... 50

Baliadangi Upazilla, Thakurgaon ......................................................................................... 51

Distinguishing features among the sub-districts: .................................................................. 51

4.2. Module 2: Agricultural Practices and Production Detail ....................................................... 51




Distinguishing features among the sub-districts: .................................................................. 53

4.3. Module 3: Women and Gender Involvement ....................................................................... 54

Differences among the sub-districts: ................................................................................... 54

4.4. Module 4: Savings and Loans ................................................................................................ 54

4.5. Module 5: Group/Collective Action ...................................................................................... 55

4.6. Module 6: Status of Services Received ................................................................................. 55

4.7. Module 7: Market Details ..................................................................................................... 56

4.8. Module 8: Government Policies and Awareness .................................................................. 56

4.9. Module 9: Crop and Income Diversification ......................................................................... 57

4.10. FGD Details ........................................................................................................................ 58

ANNEX 2: Key Informant Interview Report ........................................................................................... 59

Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI) ........................................................................................ 59

Upazilla Agriculture Office ................................................................................................................ 61

Baseline Study of “EqualiTEA II: Pro-poor Market Access for Small Tea Growers for Sustainable livelihoods” Project xiii




Upazilla Fisheries Office .................................................................................................................... 63

Upazilla Social Welfare Office ........................................................................................................... 64

Upazilla Cooperatives Office ............................................................................................................. 64

Upazilla Women Affairs Office .......................................................................................................... 64

Union Parishad Chairman (Local Government) ................................................................................ 65

4.11. Input Seller ........................................................................................................................ 65

4.12. Tea Factory ........................................................................................................................ 66

4.13. Upazilla Livestock Office ................................................................................................... 66

ANNEX 3: Case Studies .......................................................................................................................... 68

ANNEX 4: Terms of Reference .............................................................................................................. 68

Annex 5 Logical Framework Matrix ...................................................................................................... 82

Baseline Study of “EqualiTEA II: Pro-poor Market Access for Small Tea Growers for Sustainable livelihoods” Project xiv

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Project at a Glance ............................................................................................................ 16

Table 2 Sample distribution .............................................................................................................. 21

Table 3 Gender split among the respondents ................................................................................ 21

Table 4: Average Age of the Respondents .................................................................................... 22

Table 5 Literacy levels of the Survey Respondents ...................................................................... 22

Table 6 Detail of respondents family .......................................................................................... 22

Table 7 Secondary Sources of Income ........................................................................................... 26

Table 8 Household Income of Surveyed Respondents ................................................................ 28

Table 9Household Expenditure of Surveyed Households ........................................................... 30

Table 10 Expenditure in Female-headed Households ................................................................. 31

Table 11 Amount of savings ............................................................................................................. 32

Table 12 Amount and Purpose of Loan .......................................................................................... 33

Table 13 Secondary Sources of Income for Women .................................................................... 34

Table 14 Who makes the decisions in your households? ............................................................ 35

Table 15 Expense in Dowry .............................................................................................................. 36

Table 16 Agriculture at a glance ...................................................................................................... 36

Table 17 Funding for Agriculture ..................................................................................................... 38

Table 18 Cost Benefit Analysis of top five crops ........................................................................... 38

Table 19 Membership of the Respondents .................................................................................... 43

Table 20 Services from Various Institutions ................................................................................... 44

Table 21 Agriculture at a glance ...................................................................................................... 61

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 FGD being conducted .............................................................................................................. 19

Figure 2 Where the project works ........................................................................................................ 21

Figure 3 Families having school going children ............................................................................ 23

Figure 4 Ethnic Concentration of Respondents .................................................................................... 23

Figure 5 Source of income for respondents ................................................................................... 25

Figure 6 Share of Expenditure ......................................................................................................... 29

Figure 7Savings tendency by the respondents ..................................................................................... 32

Figure 8Scheme preferences by respondents ...................................................................................... 32

Figure 9Percentage of Respondents Affected by Natural Disasters in the Last 5 Years ....... 46

Figure 10 Target Area of the Study ....................................................................................................... 48

Figure 11 Jotsna Begum with her Sons ............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Figure 12 Abul Hossen is in his lychee garden with his family ...... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Figure 13 'Jorina Beoya with her grand-son' ..................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Figure 14 Firoja Begum with her grand-child .................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Figure 15 Firoja Begum with her daughter and son-in-law ..................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Figure 16 Biswanath outside his home with his wife ....................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Figure 17 Bulbuli with her family ......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Baseline Study of “EqualiTEA II: Pro-poor Market Access for Small Tea Growers for Sustainable livelihoods” Project xv

Figure 18 Sobeda Begum is with her son ......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Figure 19 Nasirul with his family .............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background of the Project

“Sustainable livelihoods for 1,500 smallholder farming households (7,500 people) in the

extreme north of Bangladesh” (EqualiTEA III) project aims to work with small tea growers

through facilitating tea cultivation among small and marginal farmers in Northern Bangladesh. The

project, funded by UK AID, is managed by Traidcraft Exchange (TX) and co-implemented by

Bikash Bangladesh. This project will work with 1,500 small and marginal farming households in

Panchagarh (Tetulia and Panchagarh Sadar sub-district) and Thakurgaon District (Baliadangi

sub-district) area and will try to facilitate tea growing among small and marginal farmers and

develop an inclusive value-chain for small tea growers with the assumption that the tea cultivation

can help the farmers have sustained source of income and reduce poverty. The small farmers in

the target area are isolated by geographic location- in the extreme north of the country and

consequentially have very few livelihood options which are the major challenges faced by the

communities.

Table 1: Project at a Glance



Project Duration 36 months (from October 2015to September 2018)

Project Budget £614,565

Donors UK AID

Implementing Agency and Partners

The project is managed by Traidcraft Exchange (TX) and co-implemented by Bikash Bangladesh4

All respondents conduct agricultural farming. Agriculture is the primary source of income for 60%

of surveyed households, with rice being the dominant food crop followed by wheat. However, as

the soil composition of this area is sandy, acidic in nature which is not suitable for many crops,

traditional crops yield poor harvests or low profitability. The acidic sandy soil on the other hand is

suitable for growing tea; however, there is no comprehensive programme to promote small-scale

tea growing among small and marginal farmers. Moreover, farmers also lack the necessary skills

and knowledge about technologically improved, environment-friendly agricultural practices.

Additionally, small and marginal farmers do not have the capacity to invest which further restricts

their option to apply good agricultural practices, diversify crop and increase their income.

The project’s beneficiaries include only the small and marginal farmers’ household, (both male

and female), who own a small piece of land ideal for tea cultivation but cannot start cultivating tea

17

due to a lack of capital, and technical skills. The project will also raise awareness about the

government services/support available to small-scale tea farmers whilst also supporting

groups/associations to lobby for the proper implementation of existing policies.

The project attempts to achieve this through:

▪ Encouraging smallholder farmers to work collectively and collaboratively. This will involve:

1.1) Organising smallholder farmers into local groups and a regional farmer association;

1.2) Building the capacity of the groups and regional association; and 1.3) Conducting tea

sector research (with a focus on smallholder tea growers) and developing a policy position

paper and action plan.

▪ Developing strong agricultural enterprises through better farming and business practices

and diversification into tea. This will involve: 2.1) Raising awareness with prospective

smallholder tea growers; 2.2) Training smallholder farmers on tea and agricultural

cultivation; 2.3) Providing loans for saplings and facilitating buy-back agreements with tea

factories; and 2.4) Facilitating access to other inputs. Once the loans for saplings are repaid

they will be used to establish a revolving fund that will be used to facilitate new entrants

into tea cultivation and scale up impact.

▪ Ensuring smallholder farmers have access to appropriate ongoing agricultural services.

This will include: 3.1) Training 120 barefoot service providers; and 3.2) Building linkages

between farmers and private/public service providers.

▪ Developing systems to support smallholder farming households to diversify their income.

This will include: 4.1) Capacity building of groups on group savings and investment

schemes; 4.2) Building links with financial institutions; and 4.3) Capacity building for

additional income-generating activities. This activity will have a particular focus on

empowering women as experience has shown that as women start to contribute more to

household income they will become more confident and gain more respect within their

family and community

1.2. Objective of the Baseline Study

This baseline study “Sustainable livelihoods for 1,500 smallholder farming households (7,500

people) in the extreme north of Bangladesh“(EqualiTEA III) Project was commissioned to

Innovision Consulting Private Limited by Traidcraft Exchange. The baseline study aims to provide

an independently assessed information base relevant to the project against which the project’s

progress and effectiveness can be monitored and assessed both during the implementation of

the project’s activities and after the completion of the project. The baseline study, an early

element of the project monitoring framework, is in effect the first step in the project monitoring and

evaluation system. The study seeks to provide the basis for subsequent assessments on how

efficiently the activity of the project is being implemented and the eventual results of the project.

The study has attempted to capture the current condition of the project beneficiaries against all

the Objectively Verifiable Indicators (OVIs) up to the output level (which are relevant to the

beneficiaries) of the Logical Frame Work Analysis (LFA) document.

18

2. METHODOLOGY

2.1. Desk Review

Innovision has reviewed the project documents, logical framework, and secondary literatures on

small-scale tea cultivation to understand sector, project objectives, beneficiaries’ details, and clear

understanding about LFA indicators. Desk review has been instrumental in developing the study

tools and in revising the research plan when required. The key documents that were reviewed

include:

• The approved project proposal document

• The approved project Logical Framework

• List of target beneficiaries

• List of other project stakeholders

2.2. Tools Development (Sample Size, Sampling

and Questionnaire)

Sample Size

As per TOR, the project is working with 1,500

smallholder farming households (7,500 people) in the

extreme north of Bangladesh. Since the population size

that is total number of beneficiaries is known but the

degree of variability is unknown, the following formula is

used to determine the optimum sample size.

n = N / (1+ND2)

By using the formula we obtained at 95% confidence

interval and 6.5% allowable error, the optimum sample

size is 219, where N=3,000, D=0.065. This sample is

very close as compared with the sample size stated in

TOR i.e. 225. Therefore, we proposed conducting the

farmer survey with a total of 225 farmers.

So at first the sample size was determined at 225. However after data collection, it was observed

that the demographic profile of 3 respondents did not match. Following data analysis and

discussion with Traidcraft, a further 23 respondents were removed from the sample. The reason

for their removal is that the information provided by these respondents was inconsistent between

Innovision’s initial survey, follow-up phone calls from Innovision and follow-up questioning by

Traidcraft field office. Given this, and the importance of using reliable information, it was decided

to exclude these individuals from the survey. This does not represent a finding that these 23

people are necessarily ineligible for the project.

Box 1: Formula for sample size

calculation

Finite Population:

n=N / (1+ND2)……………………1

n = Sample size

N = Population Size

D = Allowable degree of error

Note: This formula is from Kish, Survey

Sampling, (Wiley, 1965)

19

The error margin for this sample therefore increases to 6.8%.

2.3. Sampling Technique

Modified systematic random sampling technique was used for sample selection which is widely

used as a probability sampling method. The rationale for choosing this technique is its simplicity

and it also gives assurance that the population is evenly sampled.

In using the random sampling technique, the needed sample size was first identified. Then the

total number of the population was divided by the sample size to obtain the sampling fraction. The

sampling fraction was then used as the constant difference between subjects.

2.4. Questionnaire Development

A structured questionnaire was developed for the small scale tea growers based on the literature

review and also in consultation with the project staffs. The questionnaire was pretested through

ten in-depth interviews with the small scale tea growers in the project areas.

2.5. Field Investigation

Field plan was prepared and finalized

after consultation with the project team

members. Consultants and hired

enumerators conducted field

investigation for the questionnaire-

based farmer survey through individual

interviews with 199 EqualiTEA III

farmers, – 86 farmers from Panchagarh,

53 from Tetulia and 60 farmers from

Baliadangi sub-district. Respondents

were selected using simple random

sampling method, 119 (60%) among the

interviewees were males and 80 (40%)

were females. It was more challenging to

find women who had sufficient knowledge of their circumstances to answer the questionnaire. For

instance the women often said they do not handle the money and are not aware of how much

revenue is generated by their crops.

12 focus group discussions (3 FGDs in Panchagarh Sadar, 4 in Tetulia and 5 FGDs in Baliadangi

sub district) and 18 key informant interviews with the stakeholders like government agencies, tea

board officials and market actors etc. were also conducted. A total of 116 STGs (77 male and 39

female, 30 respondents from Panchagarh Sadar, 39 from Tetulia and 47 from Baliadangi sub-

districts) participated in each of the FGDs and we followed screening method for choosing

participants to ensure there was no overlap among the participants in FGD and sample survey.

Figure 1 FGD being conducted

20

Traidcraft selected the STG groups with whom FGDs were conducted. The STG leaders provided

a selection of individuals, and Innovision ensured that no more than 8-10 people were used in the

FGD. Innovision did not select the FGD respondents.

Mixed-sex groups were used for the FGDs since the survey was not considered to include ‘gender

sensitive’ topics. The FGDs were chosen in such a way to ensure they included a minimum of

30% female respondents. A total of 116 respondents participated in the FGDs. The list of

respondents for the KIIs is attached as Annex 5. The gender consultant has also developed in-

depth case studies and conducted 3 FGDs.

2.6. Data Collection

Six investigators were recruited to collect data from the project areas. Each field investigator

interviewed 37 respondents with the structured questionnaires. The respondents were selected

through the purposive random sampling method. Minor changes were made to the work plan

when required in consultation with the project staffs. Owing to a miscommunication- some of the

surveys were originally carried out individually but in a communal place- this was later corrected

to ensure that they were all carried out in the respondents’ homes.

2.7. Data Processing, Data Analysis and

Preparation of Baseline Report

The completed questionnaires were scrutinized and data coding was done through the proper

code plan for the qualitative responses. The collected data was entered into the Statistical

Package for Social Science (SPSS) database and the data was analysed by this software. The

report was prepared according to the ToR guideline and the sections have been organized

accordingly.

21

Figure 2 Where the project works

3. BASELINE DATA

3.1. General Information

Target Respondents

The baseline survey covered three sub-districts named Tetulia and Sadar Upazilla of Panchagarh

and Baliadangi Upazilla of Thakurgaon districts. The sample distribution among the upazillas is

shown below-

Table 2 Sample distribution

Panchagarh Tetulia Baliadangi Total

Percentage of sample 43% 27% 30%

Number of sample 86 53 60 199

Total Households in Project 450 425 625 1500

Small Tea Growers (STG) groups formed under the project comprises of households as members

of the project. Every household again comprises of one male and one female representative. The

sample distribution according to gender is shown below-

Table 3 Gender split among the respondents

Male Female

Respondent (%) 60% 40%

Number of respondent 119 80

Age Group

The average age for the male respondents is 39 whereas the average age for the female

respondents is 34. Majority of the respondents belong to the age group of 30-40 years.

22

Table 4: Average Age of the Respondents

Male Female

Average Age 39 34

Standard Deviation 13 11

Educational Background

From the sample survey findings we can see that rate of illiteracy is higher in female respondents

(26.3%) compared to male respondents (16%). About 77% of male and 87% of female

respondents have literacy below Secondary School Certificate (SSC) level. A greater percentage

of male respondents passed SSC and Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) (approximately

18.5%) than female respondents (approximately 7.6%)5. This could be explained from our findings

from FGDs that, rural small farmers tend to marry their daughter off under aged i.e. 15 to 18 years

old. This tendency exists partly because as the girl grows up the dowry required by the groom’s

family increases.

Table 5 Literacy levels of the Survey Respondents

Family Size and Number of Income Generating Members

Analyzing the data collected from sample survey we can understand that respondent households

have an average family of 5 members. And an average family has one male as well as one female

generating income.

Table 6 Detail of respondents family

Number Family Member 5*

Male Female

Gender split of family member Mean 2.3 2.2

Standard Deviation 1.0 1.0

Number of income generating member in family Mean 1.2 1.0


5Note that this figure is for those that pass SSC/HSC but do not go further in education.

Status of Education Male (%) Female (%)

Illiterate 16.0 26.3

Primary School Completion 26.1 21.3

Class 6th to 10th pass 35.3 40.0

SSC (Secondary School Certificate) 10.9 6.3

HSC (Higher Secondary School Certificate) 7.6 1.3

Graduate 3.4 5.0

Above graduate 0.8 0.0

23

Number of school going children Mean 1.3 1.3


*Note: This number has been rounded up

There are also one boy and a girl who go to school. About 67% of the respondents stated that

they have school-going children in the family.

Figure 3 Families having school going children

Ethnic Minority and Female Headed Household The report aims to understand changes in targeted indicators among the Muslim majority group

and different ethnic minority groups. By ethnic minority groups we mean respondents from Hindu

low caste, indigenous (Santal) people. We found ethnic minority people are of 7.5% of the total

sample size.

Figure 4 Ethnic Concentration of Respondents

We found 2 respondents from Panchagarh and 13 from Baliadangi Upazilla who belong to ethnic

minority groups. Out of the ethnically diverse respondents, 6 are male and 9 are female. We have

provided some tentative analysis of these ethnic subgroups- but should be careful before drawing

conclusions given the very small sample size.

From the sample survey we also found 5 households which are headed by women members. Of

those 3 households are from Panchagarh, and 1 each is from Tetulia and Baliadangi Upazilla.

67%

33%

Families with schoolgoing children

Families with noschool going children

92.5

7.5

Ethnic Concentration of Respondents

Bangali MuslimMajority(%)

Ethnic Minority (%)

24

Agriculture Agriculture is the main source of income in these three

targeted upazillas and rice is the prominent food crop.

Rice is cultivated in Aman season mainly. Soil in this

region has low water retention nature which eventually

restricts farmers from cultivating Boro season rice. Other

than rice maize, potato, jute, wheat, sesame etc. are

cultivated in this region. High land in which water clogging

does not happen is suitable for sugarcane, Robi season

crop like vegetable, chili and relatively new crop to the area tea. However, most of those high

lands are kept fallow for most of the year after one crop cultivated. Farmers find it burdensome to

invest such a long tenure crop like sugarcane (15 to 18 months) or vegetables which account for

lower profit due to low price in the local markets. Almost 90% of the cultivable lands have access

to irrigation, however, people irrigate less than required times as it increases cost of cultivation

and farmers do not get good results due to lower market price. However if farmers are growing a

profitable crop- then they may be more prepared to invest in irrigation or improved inputs. As one

farmer told us using a traditional rural expression:

“I can tolerate a kick from a cow that gives me milk”

Participants of the FGD are keen to diversify from traditional cultivation to tea cultivation in high

lands which kept otherwise fallow for most of the year (6-8 months). They also anticipate

increasing their income through tea cultivation as well as appropriate agricultural practices and

improved linkages with different market actors and stakeholders.

Crops Season

Rice (Aman) Jun/Jul – Nov/Dec

Rice (Boro) Dec/Jan – Apr/May

Wheat Nov/Dec – Mar/Apr

Maize Nov/Dec – Feb/Mar

Jute Apr/May – Aug/Sep

Sugarcane Sep/Oct – Aug/Sep

Potato Aug/Sep – Jan/Feb

Chili Jan/Feb – Nov/Dec

25

3.2. Economic Status of the Beneficiaries

3.2.1 Household Income

One of the key objectives of the baseline study is to establish a validated and extensive baseline

for measurements of future income impacts due to project activities. As such, heavy emphasis

was put on this topic to capture the true characteristics of a household’s expenses and income

behavior. The field survey has shown that, agriculture is the primary source of income for the

majority (60%) of households, although all of the respondent households undertake some

agricultural farming.

Figure 5 Source of income for respondents

Farmers stated that they had diverse sources of income with 77% having secondary sources of

income other than just agriculture. Day labour (made up of Agricultural and non-agricultural labor)

was the most common secondary source of income for males. After day labor, running a business

is common among the respondents. Examples of such businesses include stone business (like

buying stones from extractors and selling them to crushers), raw material business, stock

business, transport business etc. These findings were supported by the FGDs- where 70% of

households said they have at least one member of their household selling their physical labour.

Among female respondents who have secondary source of income other than agriculture tailoring

and day labor in stone crushing plants is common in Panchagarh and Tetulia. In Baliadangi we

received some responses that female household members have salaried jobs such as working

as house-maids in urban areas or in garment industry.

There are significant difference between wages in agricultural labor and non-agricultural labor.

According to our Focus Group Discussion, women are paid less (BDT 50 to 100) for agricultural

day labor than men. The average agricultural day labor wage for men is BDT 250-300 but only

59.8

25.1

8.5

2.5 2.51.5

Agriculture

Day Labourer

Business

Job

Rickshaw

Other

26

BDT 200 for women. Stone extracting is a job done exclusively by men and pay is based on the

amount of stone collected. In practice the amount received will range from BDT 500 – 700

although because the work is so physically demanding only the young can do it. Stone crushing

is similarly based on the square feet of stone crushed- but this activity is undertaken by both men

and women. A man or woman working at stone crushing for a day could expect to earn between

BDT 300 and 500.

These figures were supported by our discussions with the FGDs although rates may vary

somewhat across areas. Some of our FGDs suggested number of laborers can be higher for

female workers in Hindu majority areas compared to Muslim majority areas. The FGDs also

reported women near Tetulia working in tea gardens- although our sample survey did not report

this in significant numbers6.

Table 7 Secondary Sources of Income

Secondary Sources of Income

Source of Income for Male Panchagarh Tetulia Baliadangi

Agricultural laborer 20% 45% 29%

Non-agricultural laborer 15% 16% 11%

Business 31% 16% 23%

Service 8% 16% 23%

Auto/Rickshaw/Van/Trolley 5% 2% 3%

Others 24% 6% 20%

[Base Population- Respondents] 66 51 35

Source of Income for Female

Tailors work 2 2 0

Job 0 0 2

Stone workers 2 1 1

[Base Population- Respondents] 4 3 3

The mean household yearly income of surveyed respondents is BDT 89,412.From table 8 below

it can be seen that respondents in Tetulia Upazilla earn the highest yearly income (BDT 96,755

per year). Panchagarh respondents earn BDT 89,278 per year (mean) while Baliadangi

respondents earn the least- BDT 83,119 per year (mean).

Our preferred method for calculating income assigns the market value to crops which are

produced, even if they are consumed by the household. Thus if 100 kg of rice is produced, but 50

kg is consumed and 50kg is sold, we will consider the ‘potential income’ from the 50kg consumed

as part of the household total. This additional value is also added to the expenditure of the

household.

Traidcraft Bangladesh raised this as a potential concern- feeling that this might overstate the

income and expenditure of respondents. For this reason- we have calculated a separate row in

the Table 8 which assesses the income of respondents excluding crops grown for personal

consumption. To calculate this, we reduced both the cost of production of crops and the total

6This is not especially surprising given the small size of the sub-sample of women in Tetulia.

27

potential revenue proportionally to the amount of crop consumed. So if 50% of a crop was

consumed, we reduced both costs and revenues of the crop by 50%.

In the FGDs, respondents were reluctant to admit that their farming was profitable and contributed

significantly to their income. They responded that, about 30% of an average household income

comes from agriculture (food crops and cash crops) and 10% from rearing livestock and poultry.

Whereas, about 50%, (and in some FGDs up to 80% share of income) by small farmers’

household reported to be earned by selling physical labor. Our view is that the survey is a more

accurate source of information since it forced farmers to provide figures for their costs and

revenues and calculate profits, rather than merely relying on their impressions/perceptions of how

profitable their activities are.

28

Table 8 Household Income of Surveyed Respondents

Tetulia Panchagarh Baliadangi Total

Mean Med STD N Mean Med STD N Mean Med STD N Mean Med STD N

Food Crop Income with consumption included

18,293

12,080 18,676 53 21,804 15,964 23,674 82 24,202 21,180 15,128 59 21,574 17,230 20,076 194

Food crop income without consumed crops

10,539

6,098 16,461 50 16,024 9,425 22,042 77 14,771 11,337 12,469 57 14,145 9,258 18,085 184

Cash crop Income with consumption included

7,572 6,535 5,438 24 12,110 8,586 10,776 60 5,940 5,205 5,477 29 9,563 7,430 9,081 113

Cash crop income without consumed crops

7,572 6,535 5,438 24 12,073 8,586 10,726 60 5,941 5,205 5,476 29 9,543 7,430 9,044 113

Livestock 7,730 5,000 9,165 40 12,623 9,000 11,238 64 23,399 20,000 16,315 44 14,504 10,000 13,856 148

Service 70,776

78,000 27,925 8 50,000 60,000 28,355 3 49,400 48,000 15,778 10 57,629 60,000 24,023 21

Business 70,625

72,000 25,983 8 58,000 60,000 27,918 25 48,111 40,000 25,896 9 58,286 60,000 27,474 42

Wages 64,333

67,200 21,557 33 60,832 64,183 27,721 36 46,280 48,000 20,695 15 59,609 60,000 24,841 84

Rickshaw 48,000

48,000 . 1 108,000 108,000 - 2 48,000 48,000 . 1 78,000 78,000 34,641 4

Others 24,353

20,000 23,008 15 23,307 23,200 20,810 15 38,233 40,500 24,395 18 29,231 24,000 23,490 48

Total with consumption

96,755

96,095 29,895 53 89,278 90,275 33,562 86 83,119 77,485 28,747 60 89,412 87,900 31,480 199

Total without consumption

88,404

87,875 29,628 53 82,810 82,349 32,175 86 73,353 69,318 28,424 60 81,448 78,622 30,811 199

29

3.2.2 Household Expenditure

The small and marginal farmers we surveyed have limited resources and are forced to prioritize

their household expenditure. The respondents we surveyed list food as their top most priority in

their expenditure behavior.

Mean total annual expenditure per household was 87,959 BDT (Median 85,700). This differed

slightly across the three regions with Tetulia spending the most (Mean 91,743 and Median 89,600)

followed by Panchagarh (Mean 87,398 and Median 85,875) and then Baliadangi (Mean 85,420

and Median 81,050).

Figure 6 Share of Expenditure

Findings from the survey suggest that respondents spent 54.7% of their yearly expenditure on

food items. Other major expenditures are loan repayments (9.0%), medicine (6.5%), children’s

education (6.2%), clothing (5.8%) and entertainment (5.3%).

It should be noted that only 67/199 (34%) respondents make loan repayments, so for these

individuals the repayments represent much more than 9% of total expenditure. Average loan

repayments per individual with repayments was 23,453 BDT. Similarly the average expense on a

dowry was 26,667 BDT- but only 3 of our sample had paid a dowry in the past year.

FGDs were also asked to make an estimate of what constitutes their expenditure. These results

were very consistent with those of the survey (albeit less precise) with estimates of food

expenditure at 60%, and other factors such as clothing, health care, education, housing all around

5-10% each.

Food

Medicine

Clothing

Travel

Religious event

Education of Children

House Repairs

Dowry

Loan payment

Entertainment

Others

Category Percentage

Food 54.7

Medicine 6.5

Clothing 5.8

Travel 1.9

Religious event 4.8

Education of Children 6.2

House Repairs 2.0

Dowry 0.4

Loan payment 9.0

Entertainment 5.3

Others 3.7

30

Table 9Household Expenditure of Surveyed Households

The average of total household expenditure greater for Tetulia (BDT 91,743) and low for Baliadangi (BDT 85,420).The average of

household expenditure on food is almost similar for the three upazillas.

Tetulia Panchagarh Baliadangi Total

Mean Med STD N Mean Med STD N Mean Med STD N Mean Med STD N

Food 47,766 48,000 16,329 53 47,672 48,000 12,024 86 49,181 48,000 15,728 60 48,152 48,000 14,362 199

Exclude Home Grown Food

32,791 30,000 18,204 53 32,556 31,880 14,927 86 29,757 30,415 16,192 60 31,775 31,160 16,204 199

Medicine 4,917 4,000 3,662 53 5,713 4,900 4,607 86 6,415 5,000 4,833 60 5,713 4,000 4,463 199

Clothing 5,362 5,000 2,582 53 5,088 5,000 2,320 86 4,987 4,900 2,125 60 5,130 5,000 2,330 199

Travel 1,908 2,000 1,129 40 2,391 2,000 1,775 66 2,336 2,000 1,662 45 2,246 2,000 1,597 151

Religious event 4,868 5,000 2,796 53 4,385 4,000 3,095 86 3,457 4,000 1,753 60 4,234 4,000 2,717 199

Education of Children

8,815 5,500 10,059 40 7,235 6,000 9,867 57 8,721 5,000 10,699 38 8,121 6,000 10,115 135

Repair of house

2,424 2,000 2,299 29 4,016 2,000 4,994 49 2,544 2,000 1,956 32 3,168 2,000 3,743 110

Dowry 30,000 30,000 28,284 2 . . . 0 20,000 20,000 . 1 26,667 20,000 20,817 3

Loan payment 30,603 27,500 18,012 16 21,882 16,375 20,403 36 19,596 11,500 23,166 15 23,453 15,750 20,627 67

Entertainment 4,957 3,000 5,734 51 4,219 2,600 3,447 85 5,585 6,000 4,297 57 4,818 3,000 4,414 193

Others 8,311 2,000 14,741 28 3,129 2,400 2,219 63 6,982 3,600 17,103 32 5,311 3,000 11,410 123

Total 91,743 89,600 33,379 53 87,398 85,875 28,753 86 85,420 81,050 29,535 60 87,959 85,700 30,222 199

Total Exclude Home Grown

Food

76,889 71,990 34,750 53 72,282 68,937 28,967 86 67,509 65,250 27,592 60 72,070 67,310 30,278 199

31

3.2.3 Household Expenditure- Ethnic Minority and Female Headed Household

Average of total expenditure made by ethnic people (BDT 87,959) is the same as for the total

sample, however when we exclude home grown food- it is considerably lower (BDT 61,669 vs.

72,070). Although the sample size is small, this suggests that ethnic minority households may

depend more on crops they grow for their own consumption.

Ethnic Minority Male Female

Mean Med STD N Mean Med STD N

Food 46,492 48,000 15,679 6 58,701 50,000 20,483 9

Exclude Home Grown Food 11,415 7,500 13,669 6 29,780 27,720 17,333 9

Medicine 3,667 3,250 983 6 3,089 3,000 1,968 9

Clothing 3,550 4,000 1,560 6 4,500 4,000 1,561 9

Travel 2,060 2,000 1,165 5 1,371 1,200 335 7

Religious event 4,083 4,000 1,021 6 5,000 5,000 2,236 9

Education of Children 13,000 9,000 9,644 3 18,167 4,000 23,127 6

Repair of house 1,250 1,250 354 2 1,667 2,000 577 3

Dowry . . . 0 . . . 0

Loan payment 15,690 15,690 1,146 2 14,233 11,500 6,824 3

Entertainment 4,850 3,900 3,797 6 3,288 1,200 3,684 8

Others 100,000 100,000 . 1 3,000 3,000 . 1

Total 88,080 82,740 46,159 6 87,878 79,600 36,293 9

Total Exclude Home Grown Food

58,095 46,210 38,064 6 64,102 59,320 33,586 9

Table 10 Expenditure in Female-headed Households

Average of expenditure made by

female headed household is BDT

90,840 which is higher than the sample

average (BDT 87,959). With only five

female-headed households however

this is too small a sub-sample to draw

firm conclusions however.

Mean Med STD N

Food 53200 48000 10545 5

Exclude Consumption 40052 45840 11219 5

Medicine 3220 2800 3037 5

Clothing 3700 4000 975 5

Travel 4500 4500 2121 2

Religious event 2700 2000 1483 5

Education of Children 21275 5000 34247 4

Repair of house 1500 1500 707 2

Dowry . . . 0

Loan payment 1200 1200 . 1

Entertainment 7650 6000 8047 4

Others 2800 2700 1575 4

Total 90840 84400 34667 5

Total Exclude Consumption 77692 60400 33865 5

32

3.2.4 Savings

The small and marginal farmers surveyed responded that half of them have some form of savings.

When asked what savings scheme they use, we found that the majority of people (67%) use

micro-savings schemes by Micro-Finance Institutes (MFI) followed by 29% in fixed deposits in

banks (RAKUB, Agrani Bank etc.).

Table 11 Amount of savings

Amount of Savings Mean Median Standard Deviation

Savings account 4,378 1,700 5,785

Fixed deposit 7,923 3,500 10,090

Micro-savings scheme 5,600 3,000 6,312

Others7 10,174 6,000 9,078

The average of amount of savings those who save in different savings scheme are shown by the

table above. Findings from the FGDs suggest that most of the savings in ‘micro-savings the

scheme’ are mandatory savings8 saved along with repayment of micro-credit loan. These savings

are required by MFIs to secure any future loan.

It should be noted however that there is controversy about whether the micro-savings scheme

should be considered as savings. This money can only be accessed once the loan is repaid. In

effect- this plays the role of giving a deposit for the loan, rather than acting as savings. Farmers

are only able to access their money once the loan is repaid- and therefore it cannot protect them

from income shocks.

We were not able to assess the extent to which these micro-savings scheme (or indeed other

savings schemes) allow for flexible access to money to prevent income shocks. In some cases-

7Others consists of Local Life Insurance Policy (Loko Bima), Local Community Co-operatives, Cash and Ekti Bari Ekti Khamar, a government project for rural development. 8 An obligatory amount is saved with the repayment of loan instalments by loan taker.

47%53%

Do you have savings

Yes

No

15%0%

29%

67%

15%

11%

Savings SchemesSavings account

Sanchay Patra

Fixed deposit

MicrosavingsSchemeCash in Hand

Other

Figure 7Savings tendency by the respondents Figure 8Scheme preferences by respondents

33

the farmers themselves may not be aware of the exact terms. A conservative estimate of the

amount of savings available that could be used for this purpose would be to discount all money

placed in micro-savings schemes. If this were done- then only 11% of respondents have savings

that fulfill these criteria (22/199).

Among MFIs present in the target area ASA, Grameen Bank, BRAC and national NGOs working

with micro-credit schemes RDRS, TMSS, and ESDO etc. are popular by the respondents. RAKUB

and Agrani bank are also found to be preferred by people for saving in the area. Among others

form of savings, there are cash in hand, savings in local community co-operatives,

3.2.5 Credit/Loan

From the sample survey conducted we found almost all of the respondents (98%) have access to

loan. By access, we mean respondents can get loan from an institute if they intend to. 41% of the

respondents have outstanding loan currently. The average of outstanding loan amount

respondents have currently is BDT 21,162.

Table 12 Amount and Purpose of Loan

About half (49%) of the respondents who have outstanding loan took the loan to invest in

agriculture. Substantial numbers of people also take loan for purchasing or leasing lands, for

starting or expanding business, for building or maintaining houses or for buying cattle. Other

reasons for taking loan includes wedding cost or dowry for daughter’s wedding, legal costs in

case of disputes among the communities, medical expenditures etc.

Findings from the FGDs suggest that, people who have regular in-flow of income i.e. day laborers

prefer micro-credit schemes which require weekly installments by MFIs; on the other hand people

who cannot afford weekly installments go for bank loans or loan from money lender and repay

98%

41%

2%59%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Have Access to Loan Have outstanding loan

No

Yes

Outstanding Loan Amount (BDT) Mean St. Dev.

Loan Amount 21,162 15,019

Purpose of Taking Loan Responses

Agricultural investment 49%

Purchase/lease land 14%

Business 15%

Build/maintain housing 13%

Buy cattle 8%

Other 22%

34

after harvesting their crop. Among different sources of loan people avail, ASA is the most popular

source of loans, followed by Grameen Bank and BRAC.As asked about the reason behind this

preference, respondents stated that, flexibility of loan repayment is partly a reason. People do not

prefer MFIs which are not flexible in collection of repayment installment and do not give any space.

However, respondents hardly mentioned if there is any difference in interest rate; it seems

complex for them to calculate.

Source of Loan

Micro-finance Institutes Response

ASA 31%

Grameen Bank 21%

BRAC 15%

RDRS 3%

TMSS 2%

ESDO 2%

Grameen Shokti 1%

Polli Daridro Bimochon Prokolpo 3%

Bank

Krishi Bank 12%

Agroni Bank/Janata Bank 6%

Others

Ekti Bari Ekti Khamar 6%

Grocery store 4%

Neighbor 3%

Mohajon (Money Lender) 2%

3.3. Gender Involvement

Post-harvest related activities in the agriculture are pre-dominantly done by women in these three

targeted sub-districts. This was confirmed both by the survey and by the FGDs. Women are also

responsible for raising and looking after livestock and poultry. In some cases, women also work

as day laborers. Respondents of Tetulia stated that in about 30% of household contain female

day laborer working as non-agricultural laborer for instance in stone crushing. This figure is higher

than the survey data would suggest. Female agricultural day laborers receive lower wages than

men by between BDT 50 and BDT 100 per day.

Table 13 Secondary Sources of Income for Women

Secondary Sources of Income

For Female Panchagarh Tetulia Baliadangi

Tailors work 2 2 0

Job 0 0 2

Stone laborer 2 1 1

Tea garden laborer 0 0 0

Number of respondents 4 3 3

35

Women in Baliadangi are seen working in agriculture for instance planting, weeding, harvesting

etc. on their own fields. This might be because of cultural differences. In Baliadangi, Hindu people

are common for which it is more acceptable for them to work in the field. From the FGDs we

conducted it was found however that, there is no women day laborer there in Baliadangi. However,

women do not have full control over the income they earn as day labor although female

respondents said that generating income makes them more empowered and accepted in their

family.

From the sample survey it was found that, majority (88%) of the respondents said that decisions

are made jointly about major family affairs. There was a small difference in responses between

men and women. No men stated that the women make the decisions in their household, although

some women stated that they make the decisions (note that this is not necessarily a contradiction

since it will in part be due to the existence of female-headed households where no man is

present).

Broadly speaking- the results are similar whether men or women answer. However clearly this

question may not fully capture the complex dynamics around actual decision-making- particularly

given the fact that many women were less informed about the finances of their farming practices

and did not know the price received for their crops. It may be that respondents answered that they

make decisions jointly because there is a negative perception around saying that the man makes

all the decisions, or that they assumed this is what the researchers wanted to hear. Given

background knowledge of the rural context- it seems unlikely that the women are as empowered

as the headline 88% figure would suggest.

Table 14 Who makes the decisions in your households?

Decision made by Male Respondents Female Respondents

Husband 10% 8%

Wife 0% 6%

Husband and wife together 90% 86%

Payment of dowries is still common in the targeted region and the rate is excessively high. For

example families have to pay a dowry of BDT 20,000 to 100,000 or more for each wedding

depending on the qualification of the groom9. Survey respondents were asked whether they had

paid a dowry in the past year- and so many of them had not since they may not have had a

daughter married in that time period.

However from the FGD findings, we found that early marriage is prevalent in the targeted region

and that dowries are required always. People marry their daughter off at the age between 14

years to 18 years. As we asked about the reason for doing that responses from one of the FGD

in Baliadangi were like below,

9Note that this upper end was reported in FGD discussions- not through the survey.

36

“As any girl grows up, the amount of the dowry increases. We cannot marry any of our daughters

off without dowry.”

Table 15 Expense in Dowry

3.4. Agricultural Practices and Status of

Production

Agricultural Practices

In the targeted three upazillas where the survey was conducted, agriculture is the main source of

income for majority (60% of the surveyed respondents) of the respondents. Highland and middle-

high lands hold the majority of total cultivable land of the upazillas. Rice is the prominent food

crop followed by wheat and maize is the cash crop. A snapshot of the targeted three upazillas is

shown by the below table-

Table 16 Agriculture at a glance

Sadar Upazilla,

Panchagarh (In

hectare)

Tetulia Upazilla,

Panchagarh (In hectare)

Baliadangi Upazilla, Thakurgaon (In hectare)

Total cultivable land 25,800 18,919 28,425

High land 20,640 8,513 15,000

Middle-high land 3,870 9,459 10,080

Middle-low land 1,290 947 3,345

Acreage (hectare) in different crop

Crops Panchagarh Sadar Tetulia Baliadangi

Rice (Aman season) 23,220 12,755 25,000

Boro (Boro season) 2,400 2,580 5,960

Wheat 7,000 1,485 15,000

Chili 2,000 - 2,000

Potato 2,000 786 2,500

Maize 6,000 53 -

Sesame/Mustard 2,000 91 1,200

Jute 3,000 195 1,500

Vegetable 3,500 262 1,000

Source: Key informant interview Note: Data not found for blank fields.

Respondents’ families expense in Dowry (for the last year)

Panchagarh Tetulia Baliadangi

Response Mean Std.

Dev.

Response Mean Std.

Dev.

Response Mean Std.

Dev.

Dowry 0 2

30,00

0 28,284 1 20,000 0

Number

of

Respon

dents

86 53 60

Note: Figures are in BDT

37

From the sample survey it was found that the average of total cultivable land possessed by the

respondents is higher in Baliadangi (131 decimal) than in Panchagarh (110 decimal) and Tetulia

(109 decimal). The survey also determines how much land farmers keep fallow. Findings from

FGDs suggest that, farmers define fallow land both as land kept fallow around the year, but also

in some cases include lands which cultivate vegetables, Robi season crops as subsistence crops

only once in a year and kept fallow for rest of the year, lands with bamboo bush etc.

Tetulia Panchagarh Baliadangi

Average Decimal

Base Average Decimal

Base Average Decimal

Base

Own land 111 32 105 64 114 39

Family Land 123 53 117 86 141 60

Leased in land 58 10 71 20 40 15

Leased out land 33 2 67 2 0 0

Mortgaged land 44 8 55 3 42 7

Total Land 109 53 110 86 131 60

Cultivable Land 39 53 35 84 33 60

Fallow Land 126 24 129 42 147 23

Tea Cultivable (Previously fallow)

39 25 33 36 33 20

Tea Cultivable (Previously other

crop)

44 39 44 62 35 46

Total Tea Cultivable Land

51 53 45 86 39 60

The average of total tea cultivable lands is higher for respondents in Tetulia but lower in

Baliadangi. This may be the effect from the confidence farmers got from seeing other small holder

tea growers whereas, in Baliadangi it is not common.

Almost all (96%) of the respondents replied that, they mainly invest from agriculture from their

own findings. About 9% of the respondents take loan from MFIs. Note that farmers may invest in

their agriculture from more than one source.

38

Table 17 Funding for Agriculture

Status of Production:

There is a common saying we heard repeatedly as we interviewed any farmer during the survey,

“Agriculture does not provide with any profitability rather we incur losses for every other year;

however, we continue cultivating crops as purchasing food instead would cost higher. Moreover,

our investment in agriculture is in fractions of time and money rather than in bulk amount; so as

we harvest and get the return in bulk, it is something useful.”

Detailed examination of their costs and revenues through our survey- suggests that actually

farmers are profitable. Farmers’ appear to perceive their agricultural activities to be less profitable

than they actually are.

To know the extent of losses (if any) incurred by farmers, the cost benefit analysis of top five crops

is given below. Please note that net profit was calculated by combining revenue from the crop in

question with revenue from by-products and then subtracting the total cost.

Table 18 Cost Benefit Analysis of top five crops

Rice Tetulia Panchagarh Baliadangi

Land size (dec) 84 103 101

Total cost (BDT) 10792 15469 11776

Total production (Kg) 1371 1846 1572

Sale Volume (Kg) 462 735 383

Average sales price (BDT) 14 14 14

Total Rice Revenue (BDT) 19122 25581 21568

Revenue from By-products 2473 1435 1991

Net profit (BDT) 10803 11547 11782

Profit/decimal 129 113 117

Wheat Tetulia Panchagarh Baliadangi


Total cost (BDT) 8126 6729 10890



96%

2.30% 0.50% 3.20% 9% 6.30% 0.50% 0.90%0%

20%40%60%80%

100%120%

39


Total Wheat Revenue (BDT) 15031 8761 15488


Net profit (BDT) 7324 1936 5244


Maize Tetulia Panchagarh Baliadangi


Total cost (BDT) 7874 14274 8656


Sale Volume (Kg) 1060 2268 1459


Total Maize Revenue (BDT) 11660 26141 14173


Net profit (BDT) 3786 12389 6106


Chili Tetulia Panchagarh Baliadangi


Total cost (BDT) 9844 9097 8612




Total Chili Revenue (BDT) 16720 27662 19864


Net profit (BDT) 7063 18654 11676


Jute Tetulia Panchagarh Baliadangi


Total cost (BDT) 5589 4307 5105




Total Jute Revenue (BDT) 13794 9356 9171


Net profit (BDT) 9271 5244 4288


Whilst there are regional differences between the three areas, a general pattern emerges from

the survey findings that while all crops are profitable, the most profitable are cash crops like chili

and jute. Wheat is the crop which gives the most disappointing return in all three regions.

The data from the survey can be compared with the data taken from the FGD discussions. In

some cases, the FGDs presented a range rather than a definite figure. As can be seen- the data

are consistent from FGD to survey. There appears to be a small tendency for the survey to

suggest higher profitability/at the upper end of profitability compared to the FGD.

Comparison of FGD and Survey Data on Profitability

40

Crop Low-FGD (BDT/decimal)

High-FGD (BDT/decimal)

Survey (BDT/decimal)

Aman Rice 61 91 119

Wheat 76 76 85

Maize 121 121 157

Chili 242 333 326

Jute 181 181 201

As we surveyed the behavioral practices for improved cultivation techniques and access to those,

we found that the vast majority of respondents apply organic fertilizers. By organic fertilizers,

people meant cow-dung and poultry litter. Farmers of the region also sometimes plant some

bushes or sticks near the farm land to attract birds and to reduce pest attacks naturally- which is

one Integrated Pest Management method. However no farmers were found to use soil testing,

pheromone trap or other improved techniques to farming.

Improved Agricultural Method Tetulia (%) Panchagarh (%)

Baliadangi (%)

Use of Soil Test 0.0 0.0 0.0

Use of Organic Fertilizer 100.0 86.0 96.7

Planting bush/stick/small tree in field to attract birds to kill pests. 24.5 27.9 8.3

Pheromone Trap 0.0 0.0 0.0

Leaf colour chart (for urea use) 0.0 0.0 0.0

Improved Irrigation (drainage system) 0.0 0.0 1.7

AWD (Advanced Wet and Dry) 0.0 0.0 0.0

Did you follow the advice of local agricultural officers on amount of fertilizer used?

3.8 9.3 1.7

Only a very small number of farmers were found to use improved techniques of irrigation as

defined as irrigation with drainage system and none used Advanced Wet and Dry (AWD).

However from the FGD findings and KII with the agriculture office we see that almost all (95%) of

the cultivable land have access to irrigation. Farmers in the targeted region do not use optimum

amount of irrigation to their lands as it increases production cost and the higher production cost

does not necessarily lead to higher profitability. Farmers however, agreed that they will irrigate in

required volume while cultivating tea as tea is a highly profitable crop. Distinguished respondent

from one of the FGDs conducted in Tetulia said,

“We cannot irrigate in optimum volume as we do not have money. We will obviously irrigate tea

garden as it will reward us with higher profit. One farmer used the rural expression, ‘It is good to

tolerate the kick of a cow which gives milk’ (Jei goru dudh dey tar latthi khawa jai)”. This

expression is intended to convey the impression that even though something may have a

downside (in this case that tea requires irrigation which is expensive) – if there is a great enough

benefit (i.e. profit from the tea), then the downside can be tolerated.

Tea Related knowledge

Few of the farmers of the targeted upazillas are familiar with tea farming as small and marginal

farmers around them are growing tea for years. However, by knowledge on tea cultivation it was

41

meant that farmers can do tea cultivation of their own. As we asked about the sources of this

knowledge, they responded that, they learnt from neighboring farmers, some of them working in

the tea garden as labor and learnt from there etc. So for most of the time it was informal.

3.5. Existing Market and Relationship with Various

Market Actors

Respondents of the FGDs opined that they all have access to quality inputs like seeds, fertilizer

and pesticide. All of them go to local markets for buying inputs and selling agricultural produce.

Output traders may provide them with the transportation if they are bulk selling produce.

Prominent input sources and output destinations in the targeted Upazilla are listed below-

Upazilla Local markets

Panchagarh Sadar Jogodol haat, Kazir haat,

Tetulia Shalbahan haat, Tetulia haat,

Baliadangi Lahiri haat, Pariya haat

Source: Key Informant Interview

The prospective tea growers of Panchagarh have poor co-ordination with public sector support

service providers. Farmers rely more on private sector market actors like input sellers or traders

of agricultural produces than public sector service providers like livestock officers or the SAAOs.

For any solution regarding cultivation, input sellers play a vital role regardless of their expertise

or level of knowledge on the matter. For problems that aren’t typical or common, sometimes the

farmers suffer because of incorrect advice. Some of the respondents in FGDs also alleged that

input sellers sometimes give incorrect advice deliberately because they (input sellers) want to sell

more.

From the key personnel interviews under this study, some of the stakeholders opined that small

holder tea gardening is increasing at rapid pace. It will eventually come up with scarcity of efficient

workers. Respective personnel of Bangladesh Tea Board (BTB) discoursed that, quality of leaf

mostly depends on the timing and way of plucking. Efficiency of workers matters in this regard.

So it will be important to build workers’ and growers’ capacity to grow better quality of tea and

harvest it correctly.

11.8% 4.6%

88.2% 95.3%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Male Female

No

Yes

Have you been given any training or knowledge in tea cultivation?

42

Tea Factory Bought/own leaf Production in 2015 (made

tea, Kg)

Usual capacity/year (made tea KG)

Highest capacity/year (made tea KG)

Tetulia Tea Company Ltd. (TTCL)

Bought leaf 2,54,531 3,00,000 5,00,000

Korotoa Tea Factory

Bought leaf 7,17,367 6,00,000 10,00,000

Green Care Agro Bought leaf 3,13,634 3,50,000 6,00,000

North Bengal Central Tea Factory

Bought leaf 7,52,272 6,00,000 10,80,000

Green Energy Tea Factory Ltd.

Bought leaf 53,000 Experimentally functioning, capacity yet to set

Kazi & Kazi Own leaf 4,31,117 3,50,000 6,00,000

Celalan Tea Factory Bought leaf Yet to start operation in Tetulia

Green Field Tea Factory

Bought leaf Yet to start operation in Baliadangi

Source: Key Informant Interview

Tea processing factories in Panchagarh are the buyers of green leaves produced by the small

tea growers. Processing factories prefers two and a half leaves in a bud which allows ensuring

the highest quality of tea. To provide good quality leaves, the growers have to pluck every 15

days. However, sometimes growers pluck only once in a month when leaves become five to even

seven leaves in a bud. This creates more yield than plucking in 10 days cycle. So, there is a gap

between expectations of factories and growers. From the key personnel interview, it was revealed

that, tea factories want to initiate directives on offering different prices for different grades of

leaves so that farmers are forced to maintain the quality of leaves. However, the price is fixed by

the consortium comprising members from all the stakeholders.

The quality of tea produced by farmers has the potential to become a source of tension between

factories and farmers. The representatives of the Tea Board claimed that factories sometimes

dishonestly claim that tea offered is low quality to garner price reductions. They also stated that

in the rainy season (when production is high) factories effectively reduce10 the price offered to

farmers even though the price should be fixed according to law.

3.6. Existing Producers’ Groups in the Project

Vicinity and Group Activities

Findings from the survey and FGDs suggest that the respondents do not have membership to

any formal groups whatsoever before the start of the project. In fact, none of the participants of

the FGDs reported there being any kinds of development project that worked with them. However,

from the sample survey we found one respondent in Tetulia involved in one of the local community

co-operatives. The co-operative provides with loan for purchasing cattle and the respondent is

10Factories do not reduce prices explicitly; rather what they do is pay for discounted (less) volume of produce for sake

of below quality leaves supplied by farmers.

43

moderately satisfied with the loan. However, the co-operative does not facilitate any collective

action or any group savings.

Table 19 Membership of the Respondents

If there is any society/group Yes No (%)

Tetulia 0.5% 99.5%

Panchagarh Sadar 0.0% 100%

Baliadangi 0.0% 100%

Typically, there are micro-finance institutions operating in the project vicinity, but according to the

participants, none of those organization have formed any kinds of formal groups. Respondents

reported that they are member of micro-finance institutions’ and NGOs working with microfinance

schemes.

We also asked about expectations and services that farmers’ need from any group and received

diverse responses. The most popular response was help with collective selling, followed by

respondents seeking training on cultivation related techniques for tea cultivation. Other

respondents asked for help with livestock rearing, tea sapling and irrigation facilities. The table

below shows the full responses from the sample survey.

Facilities/services seek from any group Responses

Tea cultivation technique 60%

Tea saplings 39%

Credit/loan facilities 16%

Savings opportunity 17%

Financial support on tea cultivation 20%

Tea leaves marketing 24%

Irrigation facility 39%

Livestock rearing training 50%

Collective selling 80%

Improved agriculture knowledge 21%

Land fill-up (plinth raise) 5%

Interest-free loans 5%

3.7. Policy and Services

Knowledge on the availability of Government Services

Findings from the FGDs suggest that many of the participant farmers are unaware of their rights

and entitlements and of relevant government services that they can demand. To refer

Government services, farmers say that, SAAO does not visit field and give solutions for crop

disease and pest management. This statement is towards livestock offices as well. Farmers

attribute their lack of knowledge on entitlements and services from Government to absence of

44

coordination with the Government service providers. However, many of the respondents of FGD

were aware about the regulatory role of BTB in setting price for green tea leaves.

Services Rendered by Various Agencies

From our sample it was found that the vast majority of respondents do not receive services from

government or other agencies (85.9%). From those respondents that do receive services, about

half (46.4%) report getting them from government institutions, with others receiving services from

MFIs (28.6%), a community school (7.1%), Krishi Bank (7.1%), Union Parishad, Agroni Bank and

a Tea Factory (all 3.6% each). By services farmers mean solutions on cultivation practices and

diseases, disease of livestock and poultry and subsidy on seed or other inputs and livestock.

However, findings from the FGDs conducted suggest that, in case of agricultural solutions,

farmers rely on input sellers.

Table 20 Services from Various Institutions

Service Provider Response

BTB (Bangladesh Tea Board) 0.0%

Govt. Institutions (DAE, Livestock) 46.4%

Private Sector (input sellers, buyers, livestock drug sellers) 0.0%

Anondo School (Community school) 7.1%

Union Parishad 3.6%

Agrani Bank 3.6%

Tea Factory 3.6%

Krishi Bank (RAKUB) 7.1%

MFI* 28.6%

Number of Respondents who received services 28

Number of Respondents who did not receive services 171

Some of the private sector market actors such as the dealers and retailers extend credit facilities

to the farmers on fertilizer. The below table shows received services-

Received Services Responses

Advice/Technology sharing 52.8%

Loan 41.7%

Knowledge sharing 10.6%

Sanitation 2.8%

Savings 2.8%

Many of the FGD participants opined that public sector service providers provide sub-optimal

services. Opinion of one of the respondents from a FGD says,

“Once my cattle were affected by disease and the government livestock office provided with the

treatment, however, the treatment did not work and my cattle died. There are others in this

meeting who lost their cattle as well.”

Note: * Grameen Bank, BRAC, ASA, NGOs having micro-finance scheme

45

Level of satisfaction with existing services Response

Highly satisfied 5.6%

Moderately satisfied 63.9%

Not Satisfied 30.5%

Source: Sample survey

Participants complained that DAE officials rarely visit their farms. SAAOs are hard to find when

solutions are needed. Whenever any farmer visit livestock offices for solution to disease, they

need to pay for availing the services even though solutions from livestock officers are supposed

to be offered for free. However, while interviewing various government officials such as the

Upazilla Agriculture Officers and Upazilla Livestock Officers, they admitted that the number of

Government service providers is not sufficient enough to offer complete coverage of services in

all the areas under their jurisdictions. Moreover, the long distance between farmers’ farm lands

and Upazilla Sadar restricts farmers’ incentive to go for government services and incur higher

cost for such services. In the sample survey, interviewees mentioned about the following services

provided by the government and private sectors.

Required Services by Respondents All

Technical know-how on agriculture 1.5

Savings facility 4.1

Provide tea saplings 45.5

Tea cultivation training 67.1

Loan/credit 27.0

Healthcare/health awareness 2.3

Collective actions 0.9

Form cooperatives/society 2.7

Education program 0.5

Monitoring/solve tea cultivation 2.3

Financial support 12.2

Irrigation for tea cultivation 4.5

Fertilizer/pesticides for free 12.2

Provide electricity 1.4

Build School/hospital 1.5

Livestock rearing training 3.2

3.8. Vulnerability from Natural Disasters

11% of the survey respondents reported to have been affected by drought and 1% by flooding in

the last 5 years. However, the FGD responses differed somewhat. Respondents in almost all the

FGDs stated that drought causes harm to agriculture every year. The reasons for this discrepancy

are not clear- but it may be that in the FGD setting people replied thinking about themselves- but

also their friends/neighbors, whilst for the survey they only answered in response to their own

circumstances. Consequences of drought include, increase in cost of irrigation, decrease in yield,

reduction in quality of produces etc.

46

Figure 9 Percentage of Respondents Affected by Natural Disasters in the Last 5 Years

Among the sample survey respondents who have been affected by natural disasters in the last

five years reported additional cost incurred due to excessive irrigation and loss of yield. The

average of additional cost incurred in BDT 6,183 in 33 decimal of land.

Additional cost (33 decimal) incurred for natural disaster

Average 6,183

Standard Deviation 2,533

Responses from the sample survey revealed that

about 69% of the respondents have safety

measures other than savings for vulnerability

against natural disasters or in need. The below table

shows the means of safety measures respondents

have. Predominantly their safety measures consist

of selling off assets such as livestock or land.

Means of safety measures Responses

Cow sales 55.8%

Savings 14.0%

Land sales 32.6%

Tree sales 7.8%

Stipends 16.3%

Old age allowance 11.7%

Goat Sales 1.0%

11.01.0

88.0

Effect of Natural Disaster

Affected indraught

Affected in flood

Not Affected innatural disaster

69%

31%

Respondents have other safety measures

Yes

No

47

4. CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the baseline survey demonstrates that farmers and their families in the targeted

areas have a genuine need for a project of this sort to increase their earnings and make their

agricultural activities more profitable. At present they state they make little profit- and

predominantly grow rice to eat rather than sell. Farmers already grow a range of crops such as

chili, sugar cane and jute alongside staples such as rice, wheat and maize and seemed keen to

try a new crop. Many farmers mentioned that they had heard of the success of tea growing through

various other sources and were keen to learn how to grow it.

The three districts are similar in many respects- although Baliadangi has some differences to

Panchagarh and Tetulia. These should be accounted for in the project design. It will be particularly

important to determine which agricultural activities women will be expected to undertake when

considering the training that is provided. In all three districts women were involved in post-harvest

activities- which are particularly important for tea since tea factories seek higher quality produce

which has to be picked by hand and more regularly.

Farmers are currently not members of collective groups- although are interested in many of the

possibilities this could bring. Farmers’ responses also showed that they are interested in the

groups providing a wide range of services- many of which are applicable outside the scope of

only growing tea. This supports Traidcraft’s approach that farmers groups will have additional

benefits such as farmers using collective selling to get a better price for non-tea produce.

Farmers were generally positive to learn about tea cultivation and keen to receive support from

Traidcraft. Many farmers have already experimented with crop diversification into other crops

such as chilies or sugarcane. Most farmers already have alternative income streams such as

working as a day laborer or some other business interest. Tea cultivation will need to be seen as

a profitable enough activity to merit the time they spend on it therefore- since their crop will need

to be sold to factories to become a final product.

Page | 48

ANNEX 1 FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION

SUMMARY

S/N Date of FGD Conducted

Address/ Venue Number of Participant

Number of Male: Female

Number Ethnic Minority*

1 March 28, 2016 Bamon Para, Sadar,

Panchagarh 10 6:4 None

2 March 25, 2016 Talma, Sadar Panchagarh 10 5:5 None

3 March 26, 2016 Banagaon (Jotpara), Baliadangi, Thakurgaon

10 8:2 All

4 March 26, 2016 Sholapukur, Baliadangi, Thakurgaon

8 4:4 All

5 March 25, 2016 Mohigaj, Tetulia,


6 March 25, 2016 Sonarban, Tetulia, Panchagarh

10 9:1 None

7 March 25, 2016 Bakshipara, Tetulia,


8 March 25, 2016 Uttar Talma, Sadar, Panchagarh

10 6:4 None

9 March 28, 2016 Narayangaj, Tetulia, Panchagarh

10 5:5 None

10 March 26, 2016 Nitaldoba, Baliadangi, Thakurgaon

9 7:2 None

11 March 26, 2016 Nitaldoba, Baliadangi, Thakurgaon

10 8:3 None

12 March 28, 2016 Pariya, Baliadangi, Thakurgaon

10 6:4 None

Total 116 77:39

* By Ethnic Minority we mean low caste Hindu, indigenous people (Santal).

A total of twelve Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) have been conducted in which respondents

were the members of different Small Tea Growers (STG) group formed by the project “Sustainable

Figure 10 Target Area of the Study

Page | 49

livelihoods for 1,500 smallholders farming households (7,500 people) in the extreme north of

Bangladesh-”. FGDs were conducted to study the baseline condition of farmers grouped under

the project. Bikash Bangladesh/Traidcraft Exchange have been facilitating these groups of Tetulia

and Sadar Upazilla of Panchagarh district and Baliadangi Upazilla of Thakurgaon district to

provide sustainable support to the disadvantaged small farmers of the region to build the capacity

of growing tea, improve cultivation practices, increase income and access to services and

entitlements.

4.1. Module 1: Status of Income and Expenditure

Sadar Upazilla, Panchagarh Small farmers participated in the FGDs conducted in Panchagarh reported that about 95% of

them earn their living from agricultural farming. Very small portion of household (approximately

5%) do services within the district or outside the district, own small business, and some small

landless live by selling physical labor. They also mentioned that about 70% of the household have

at least one member who sells physical labor alongside agricultural farming. Remaining 30% of

the households live entirely by agricultural income. Labor includes both agricultural and non-

agricultural labor. Among non-agricultural labor includes extracting under-ground riverine stone,

working in stone crushing plants. Very few groups situated near Tetulia members are working in

tea garden and factory as well.

When we discussed about share of income

earned from different sources, small farmers

participated in the FGDs were not keen to

admit notable portion of income earned from

agricultural farming. They responded that,

about 30% of an average household income

comes from agriculture (food crops and cash

crops) and 10% from rearing livestock and poultry. Whereas, about 50%, in some FGDs 80%

share of income by small farmers’ household reported to be earned by selling physical labor.

Interestingly there is remarkable difference between earning from agricultural labor and labor in

stone extracting and stone crushing plants. Agricultural labors could earn about BDT 300 whereas

extracting under-ground stone could make about BDT 500 or even up to BDT 800 a day, however,

working in stone is much hard work for which relatively young can do it. About 20% to 30% of the

households in the targeted area have female members selling physical labor. There are some

culture issues; this rate higher in Hindu majority areas compared to Muslim majority areas. Female

day laborers typically work in sorting section of stone crushing plants and tea garden and could

earn about BDT 200 to BDT 250 a day.

Source of Household Income Income Share

Food and Cash crop 30%

Livestock and Poultry 10%

Selling physical labor 50%

Others (salary, business income, selling tree etc.)

10%

Note: This is an average of responses from FGDs in Panchagarh.

Source of Household Expenditure

Share of Expenditure

Food 60%

Clothing 5%

Health care 5%

Children education 5%

Page | 50

Among expenditures of a typical small farmer

household in Panchagarh, expenditure on

food items accounts for the majority share.

Respondents of different FGDs responded

that, majority of yearly expenditure consist of

spending on food. Responses ranged from 50% to 80% respective of different FGD. It indicates

the priorities of a typical rural small farmers’ family. Among food item rice, potato, vegetables etc.

are grown as subsistence crop, cost of which we took as the family expenditure. A typical small

farmer family expends about 5% to 10% of family income in clothing. Respondents opined that

they buy clothing twice a year. Cost of children education accounts for 5% to 10% of the family

expenditure. Respondents of Panchagarh reported that about 80% of families have school-going

children and the cost includes cost of education materials, tuition, school fees etc. Among ‘other’

household expenditure, farmers reported the cost of entertainment and gift of relatives on different

religious and social occasions.

Tetulia Upazilla, Panchagarh Resembling respondents of FGDs in

Panchagarh small farmers from Tetulia

responded also that agriculture is the prime

source of income for about 95% of them.

However, respondents from Tetulia opined

that, about 80% to 90% of the household sell

physical labor alongside agriculture and

about 50% of households have their women working as day laborer. Moreover, a majority portion

of their household income 60% of their household income for example comes from selling physical

labor; in some of the FGDs respondents even reported that 80% of their household income comes

from selling physical labor. However, labor in Tetulia is somewhat a bit different from those in

Panchagarh. The majority of labor in Tetulia consisted of labor in stone extraction and stone

crushing. There are some laborers working in tea gardens and factories also. People from the

region concentrate on non-agricultural labor because agricultural labor could earn about BDT 300

a day (BDT 200 for tea garden and factory labor), extracting stone on the other hand (under-

ground stone and riverine stone) could earn from BDT 500 up to BDT 800. Working in stone

crushing plants and stone sorting could make about BDT 300 a day. This is why income share

from physical labor holds the majority and that from agriculture shrinks for respondents in Tetulia.

Stone extracting season goes for 6 months a year (rainy season) however, crushing plants run

all year round.

As we discussed about the household expenditure, responses were largely similar to that of

Panchagarh Sadar Upazilla. Unlike Panchagarh, respondents in Tetulia opined that they incur

10% of their income on clothing.

Housing 5%

Others (entertainment, relatives, religious cost, transportation etc.)

10%

Note: This is an average of responses from FGDs in Panchagarh




Selling physical labor 60%


10%

Note: This is an average of responses from FGDs in Tetulia.

Page | 51

Baliadangi Upazilla, Thakurgaon As we discussed income and expenditure in

FGDs conducted in Baliadangi Upazilla,

scenario are a bit different from that in

Panchagarh districts. Income from food and

cash crops holds half of the household

income share in Baliadangi. Agriculture over

there is somewhat profitable as cost of labor

is relatively cheaper compared to Panchagarh district. About 20% of their household income

comes from selling physical labor, however, in Baliadangi we found basically agriculture labor and

a very small portion (2% to 3%) consists of working as porter and tea garden labor. There are

some small growers’ tea garden and two estates in Baliadangi which employs very small number

of labor (about 200 persons in a 65 acres tea estate owned by local entrepreneur Mr. Foyzul Islam

Hiru, 130 acres estate owned by local parliament member Mr. Dobirul Islam and about 33 acres

of small growers’ garden). Cost of labor in Baliadangi Upazilla is about BDT 200 to BDT 300 a

day.

As we discussed about household

expenditure in the FGDs, we found that

responses in the FGDs differed only slightly

between Baliadangi and the other districts.

FGD respondents were only making

approximate estimates of their expenditure-

so this small variation is likely not significant.

Distinguishing features among the sub-districts: • Agricultural income in Baliadangi have the highest portion of household income share

whereas, day laborer holds the highest portion in Tetulia.

• Tetulia have the largest percentage of non-agricultural labor. About 80% to 90%of

households have members who sell physical labor in stone extracting and stone crushing

and in tea garden and factories.

• Day laborer in Baliadangi Upazilla is mostly of agricultural day laborer. Non-agricultural

day labor found to be very small in number i.e. approximately 2% reported to work in tea

garden or as porter.

• In Panchagarh and Tetulia Upazilla almost all of the day laborer work in stone extracting

and stone crushing plants and in tea garden as well.

4.2. Module 2: Agricultural Practices and

Production Detail




Selling agriculture labor 20%


10%

Note: This is an average of responses from FGDs in Baliadangi.

Source of Household Expenditure

Share of Expenditure

Food 60%

Clothing 10%

Health care 5%

Children education 10%

Housing 5%

Others (entertainment, relatives, religious cost, transportation etc.)

10%

Note: This is an average of responses from FGDs in Baliadangi.

Page | 52

Among cultivable lands in targeted regions there are of three types of lands i.e. high lands, middle

high lands and middle low lands. The high lands which accounts for the highest in portion followed

by middle high lands. Very few are middle low lands where Boro season rice is cultivated pre-

dominantly as it requires less irrigation. Aman season rice, wheat, maize, chili, sugarcane,

vegetable are cultivated in High lands and middle high lands. A brief of cost benefit analysis are

given below-

1. Table: Cost Benefit Analysis of Major Crops

Prominent Crop (33 decimal) Total Cost (BDT) Total Yield (Kg) Total Revenue (BDT)

Net Profit (BDT)

Rice (Boro) 7,000 - 10,000 640 - 800 8,000 - 10,000 0 - 1,000

Rice (Aman) 4,000 - 6,000 480 - 640 7,000 - 8,000 2,000 - 3,000

Wheat 4,500 - 6,000 400 - 480 7,000 - 8400 2,500

Maize 6,000 – 8,000 1,000 - 1, 200 10,000 – 12,000 4,000

Chili 6,000 – 9,000 180 - 400 14,000 – 20,000 8,000 – 11,000

Sugarcane 8,000 – 11,000 7,000 – 10,000 18,000 – 22,000 10,000 – 11,000

Jute 4,000 – 6,000 300 - 400 10,000 – 12,000 6,000

Sadar Upazilla, Panchagarh There is a total of 25,800 hectares11 of cultivable land in Panchagarh Sadar Upazilla. About 80%

of these cultivable lands are high land, 15% are middle-high and rests 5% are middle low land.

Small farmers in Panchagarh Sadar Upazilla produce rice, wheat, chili, potato etc. as prominent

food crops. However, about 80% to 90% of the produced rice is kept for family consumption.

Maize is the prominent cash crop in the region followed by jute. Some of the farmers cultivate

sugarcane as they get seedling and fertilizer on credit from local sugar mills which they repay by

providing produces to the particular sugar mill. However, this crop is losing its share as it is a long

term crop for which farmers consider the investment to be burdensome for them.

Respondents of the FGD opined that about 90% of the cultivable lands have access to irrigation

facility. Only a very small number of respondents, (3-5%) reported having their own shallow

machine and pump. Farmers who do not have shallow machines hire from nearby to irrigate their

land. Usually large farmers possess their own shallow and pump and lend those for an hourly fee.

However, farmers do not irrigate in required extent as they deem irrigation to increase the cost of

the production and not having good profitability in return. For example they irrigate wheat field

once or twice in a season whereas they know that for good yield it requires 4 to 5 times of irrigation

in such high lands they cultivate. About 90% of the farmers use bought seed and rest 10% use

retained seed. However, crops like maize, chili, jute, vegetable seeds used are rarely retained

seed. Farmers have access to quality fertilizer and pesticide of nationally recognized brands like

Auto Crop Care, Syngenta, ACI, Petrochem, SEMCO/NAAFCO group, Bayer Crop Science etc.

However, small farmers present in FGDs opined that they use relatively cheaper fertilizers and

pesticides of not renowned brands. From prior experience of implementing agricultural projects

Innovision deems these to be of sub-optimal quality. As we discussed about the reasons for such

practices responses were that, making agricultural investment is to some extent challenging for

11Source: DAE, Panchagarh Sadar Upazilla.

Page | 53

small farmers we targeted as cost of inputs are high and return on investment is low due to low

market price for produces. For selecting brands and dosage of fertilizer and pesticide, farmers as

common practice rely on the local input sellers available in local markets. Inputs farmers purchase

are on credit and they repay the amount after harvesting crops. Almost all of the FGDs responded

that farmers use power-tiller for land preparation, diesel powered threshing machines for rice and

wheat.

Tetulia Upazilla, Panchagarh

There is a total of 18,919 hectares12 of cultivable land in Tetulia Upazilla. About 8,513 hectares

of these cultivable lands are high land, 9,459 hectares are middle-high land and rests 947

hectares are middle low land. Among agricultural crops, rice, wheat chili is the prominent in Tetulia

and jute is the major cash crop followed by sugarcane. Among others potato, onion also cultivated

in the region. Agricultural labor in Tetulia is relatively costly and unavailable compared to

Baliadangi. This increases cost of production and makes agricultural farming less profitable and

subsistence cultivation for farmers in Tetulia. In Tetulia, farmers use organic fertilizer like cow

dung, chicken litter, kitchen ash etc.

Baliadangi Upazilla, Thakurgaon

There is a total of 25,000 hectares13 of cultivable land out of a total of 28,400 hectares of land in

Baliadangi Upazilla. About 10,000 hectares of these cultivable lands are high land, another 10,000

hectares are middle-high land and rests 5,000 hectares are middle low land. Rice is cultivated as

the main food crop in Baliadangi followed by wheat. Other than rice potato, wheat chili is also

cultivated in the Upazilla. Maize is the cash crop followed by jute. Some of the farmers cultivate

sugarcane as well as they get seedling and fertilizer on credit from local sugar mills and pay off

the loan after harvest. Agricultural labor is cheaper and available in Baliadangi compared to

Tetulia and Panchagarh as stone extracting and stone crushing labor is not accessible in the

region. This reduces the production cost and makes agricultural farming more profitable

compared to Tetulia and Panchagarh. From the FGDs conducted in Baliadangi we found that,

farmers in this region are more dependent on agricultural farming then those of Tetulia and

Panchagarh.

Distinguishing features among the sub-districts:

• Crop preferences among the respondents of FGDs conducted in different Upazillas are

shown below-

2. Table: Crops grown by different Households

Crop Panchagarh Baliadangi Tetulia

Rice (Aman) 95% 90% 95%

Rice (Boro) 10% 35% 10%

12Source: DAE, Baliadangi Upazilla, Thakurgaon. 3Source: DAE, Baliadangi Upazilla, Thakurgaon.

Page | 54

Wheat 77% 35% 50%

Maize 42% 40% 2%

Chili 29% 21% 27%

Jute 10% 20% 40%

Sesame 11% 16% 17%

Potato 26% 2% 5%

Sugar cane 3% 5% 10%

Vegetable 8% 14% 2%

• Summer tomato is grown to some extent in Panchagarh and Baliadangi whereas; it is not

a grown in Tetulia. Very small fraction of farmers in Tetulia grow vegetable merely for

family consumption. This is because required transportation cost is higher for farmers

producing summer vegetables in Tetulia.

• Availability of agricultural labor in Baliadangi is relatively higher compared to two sub-

districts in Panchagarh which eventually reflects in the labor cost. For example labor cost

is higher by approximately BDT 50 to 100 in Tetulia compared to that in Baliadangi.

4.3. Module 3: Women and Gender Involvement

Post-harvest related activities in the agriculture are pre-dominantly done by women in these three

targeted sub-districts. Women also do the work of raising and looking after livestock and poultry.

Women also work as day laborers. Respondents of Tetulia suggested that in about 30% of

households women work as day laborers in areas such as agriculture and stone crushing. This is

lower than was suggested in the survey and we do not have a clear explanation for this

discrepancy.

Female day laborers receive lower wages i.e. BDT 50 to BDT 100 per day compared to male

labor in agricultural day labor; the difference in wages is because male laborers do jobs which

require extensive physical strength i.e. digging soil and extracting stone. Female members in

Baliadangi are seen largely working in planting, weeding, harvesting etc. on their own field. In

Baliadangi Upazilla it is not a common scenario for women to work as agricultural or non-

agricultural day laborers.

From the FGDs we conducted it was found that women have less control in the income they earn

as day labor. Their male counterparts normally make the decisions around spending the money

earnt. In some cases, respondents claimed there is a joint decision made by the family.

Differences among the sub-districts: • There are more female agricultural laborer prevailing in Baliadangi Upazilla compared to

Tetulia and Panchagarh.

• In Tetulia and Panchagarh female laborers are found to work in stone crushing plants and

in tea estates. In Tetulia and Panchagarh about 30% of female household work in stone

crushing plants.

4.4. Module 4: Savings and Loans

Page | 55

Small farmers participated in the FGDs conducted in targeted region reported that they have

access to loan as and when they require. We found 50% to 60% to some extent, of the

respondents take loan. However, the sources of loan are micro-credit organizations namely

BRAC, ASA, Grameen Bank etc. and national NGOs having micro-credit scheme like RDRS,

TMSS etc. The common loan scheme popular among the respondents is one having repayment

schedule of 44 weekly installments. Interest rates ranges from 12.5% to as much as 15%.

Whoever prefers to take loan and invest in agriculture and repay the loan after harvesting, take

loan from Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank-RAKUB. Other than RAKUB, taking loan from

commercial banks is found to be very minimal in number in the targeted region. People save in

mandatory savings in MFIs. While repaying the loan installment, a portion of the loan repayment

installment is saved in their account as mandatory savings. Small farmers withdraw those savings

and use for agricultural cost and buying livestock. Other than mandatory savings, very few

(approximately 3% to 5%) suggested that they save in formal institutions. People invest their

excess amount of income and profitability from agriculture on buying livestock and taking lease

lands. They consider these investments as savings and a means of cushion against vulnerability

and financial crisis.

4.5. Module 5: Group/Collective Action

Small farmers participated in the FGDs conducted in the targeted regions reported that there is

no farmers or community group or society formed by any NGO or organization. Collective activity

is thus not common in communities. However, participants responded that they understand the

benefits of collective action. They said that they will gain bargaining power over agricultural market

actors if they practice collective purchase and selling. They also mentioned that there will be cost

effectiveness through reduction in transportation cost and price reduction in bulk purchase.

People are enthusiastic to practice collective action in agriculture. However, participants in some

of the FGDs reported that though they understand advantages of collective actions, it cannot be

practiced because of two reasons. Respondents from FGDs in Baliadangi said,

“We cannot be able to practice collective actions, as all of us do not buy in a single point of time.

Everybody buy inputs on their convenience as somebody might have the money to spend in

different time. Somebody might get a credit from the input seller.”

“And the reason for which we cannot practice collective sale is all of us do not have the uniformed

quality of produces. He who has better quality of produces would not choose a collective sale.”

4.6. Module 6: Status of Services Received

Almost all of the FGDs concluded that small

farmers rely on private sector market actors for

services and entitlements they require. For

agricultural solutions and best practices farmers

seek opinion from input sellers in the markets in

their vicinity. However, some of the participants

confirmed that representative of DAE (Sub-

Brief Synopsis

Majority rely on private sector market actors and service providers, i.e. Input sellers, private veterans etc.

SAAO is found on local haat day in input sellers’ shop

Most of the farmers seems satisfied with solutions from input sellers, but not with private veterans.

Input sellers provide farmers with credit facilities while purchasing inputs, farmers repay after harvest.

Page | 56

assistant Agriculture Officer-SAAO) is available in input sellers shop during local haat day (weekly

market day). Respondents also reported that they seek for fertilizer and crop protection solutions

from agro-input company representatives found in input sellers shop during local haat day. SAAO

visit farm land on call as well. People seek agricultural solutions from their fellow lead farmers as

well. However, majority of farmers rely on information they get from input sellers while purchasing

inputs. This is because small farmers opined that DAE representative is not available in need.

However, people seem to be satisfied with information and agricultural solutions they get from

input sellers. Other than agricultural information farmers also get credit facilities from the input

sellers and repay after harvesting crops.

For solutions of livestock and poultry diseases, farmers call local veterinarians available in local

market and seek for solutions though it costs higher than government livestock department.

Government livestock offices are entitled to provide with free treatment (if treatment received in

the livestock office and minimal charge if at farmers place) and stated price for vaccines, drugs

and artificial insemination (AI). There are specific price chart for veterinary drugs, vaccine and

artificial insemination. However, respondents participated in the FGDs claimed that Government

livestock offices charge for the treatment though services are taken at livestock offices and charge

higher than stipulated price for drugs and vaccine. Distance from Upazilla level livestock office

from farmers place and associated transportation costs are another reason farmers mentioned

for relying on local veterinarians.

4.7. Module 7: Market Details

Respondents of the FGDs opined that all of them have access to quality inputs like seeds, fertilizer

and pesticide. All of them go for local markets for buying inputs and selling agricultural produces.

Output traders may provide with the transportation in case of bulk selling of produces. Prominent

input sources and output destinations in the targeted Upazilla are listed below-

Upazilla Local markets

Panchagarh Sadar Jogodol haat, Kazir haat,

Tetulia Shalbahan haat, Tetulia haat,

Baliadangi Lahiri haat, Pariya haat

People participated in the FGDs opined that they ease their selling behavior by using information

through mobile phone. They decide and choose among markets by just a phone call. Some times

when they sell a bulk amount buyer may provide with transportation from the farm gate, or farmers

send through. In case of farm gate sale, traders could not deceive by low price than market

because information through mobile phone is available now a day. However, people seem not

happy with prevailing low market price for agricultural produces.

4.8. Module 8: Government Policies and

Awareness

For agricultural good practices and solutions, the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) is

responsible for disseminating improved agricultural practices among farmers. DAE has field level

Page | 57

staff designated as Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer (SAAO) who will popularize improved high

yielding varieties among farmers, show good results through demonstrations and farmers field

day, provide with information on appropriate fertilizers and crop protection solutions. Small

farmers participated in the FGDs reported that they have the awareness on the entitlements,

however, very few large and lead farmers have direct communication with SAAO or DAE.

Although, the information passes through lead farmers, small farmers get deceived sometimes

by wrong information. Sometimes they lose because of in-appropriate information and inputs.

Input sellers have the incentive to sell sub-optimal quality of inputs, as profitability of those are

high and input sellers get credit facility for inputs which are of sub-optimal quality. Respondents

from one of the FGD in Tetulia say,

“Yes, we lose sometimes, because inputs often do not work. But what else can we do rather keep

faith on input sellers. We do not have lot of options to explore, there are few other input sellers

but not everybody will provide me a credit facility”

For information on livestock and poultry rearing, Government livestock offices are entitled to

provide with free treatment (if treatment received in the livestock office and minimal charge if at

farmers place) and stated price for vaccines, drugs and artificial insemination (AI). There are

specific price chart for veterinary drugs, vaccine and artificial insemination. People have the

awareness on the entitlements, however, majority of participants have the impression that

government livestock offices are entitled to provide with free vaccines and drugs etc. Communities

who are near to the Upazilla Sadar avail government services most as transportation cost is

minimal for them.

4.9. Module 9: Crop and Income Diversification

People are open to crop and income diversification. People cultivate high priced cash crops

instead of low-profit traditional crops in turn. For example maize is cultivated in Panchagarh and

Baliadangi and vegetable in Baliadangi extensively. People change the crop if they find it less

profitable. Farmers participated in the FGDs conducted in Tetulia on the other hand reported that,

about 90% of the household sell physical labor in stone extracting and stone crushing because it

gives higher income than agriculture. This has a market implication; cost of labor (agricultural and

non-agricultural) in Tetulia Upazilla is higher compared to that of Baliadangi. FGD participant

groups in Panchagarh and Tetulia are more open to tea cultivation as they saw higher profitability

made by small growers of their vicinity. However, people from Baliadangi are relatively less open

to that as small holder tea growing is not that prevailing in Baliadangi. We found in some of the

FGDs conducted in Baliadangi that people are in dilemma whether they should go for such a long

term investment. However, they get ready to diversify crops and cultivate tea, as their fellow

farmers are trying to do so in a group. Some of the participants say,

“We were not sure about the profitability of tea. However, all my neighbors are planning to cultivate

it; that is why I will take the risk. If every other could make money from it, I will not be a difference.”

Most of the respondents reported that they do not have technical know-how on tea cultivation. If

they are provided with technical knowledge on tea cultivation they can do it.

Page | 58

4.10. FGD Details

Information removed for the purposes of data protection. Please contact Traidcraft

Exchange head office in the UK for further information on this.

Page | 59

ANNEX 2: KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEW

REPORT

Some information removed for the purposes of data protection. Please contact Traidcraft


S/N Name of the Respondent Designation Department/ Organization

Date of Interview

1 Senior Farm Assistant Bangladesh Tea Board March 23rd, 2016

2 Upazilla Agriculture Officer- Tetulia

Department of Agriculture Extension

March 24th, 2016

3 Upazilla Agriculture Officer- Panchagarh


March 23rd, 2016

4 Upazilla Agriculture Officer- Baliadangi


March 27th, 2016

5 Upazilla Fisheries Officer-Tetulia

Department of Fisheries Office

March 24th, 2016

6 Upazilla Fisheries Officer-Baliadangi

Department of Fisheries Office

March 27th, 2016

7 Upazilla Social Welfare Officer

Department of Social Services-Baliadangi

March 27th, 2016

8 Upazilla Social Welfare Officer

Department of Social Services-Tetulia

March 23rd, 2016

9 Upazilla Cooperatives Officer

Department of Cooperatives- Tetulia

March 28th, 2016

10 Upazilla Cooperatives Officer

Department of Cooperatives-Baliadangi

March 27th, 2016

11 Upazilla Women Affairs Officer-Tetulia

Ministry of Women and Children Affairs

March 24th, 2016

12 Chairman, Dhontola Union Parisad

Union Council, Local Government Division

March 26th, 2016

13 Proprietor (Input Seller)

M/s. U.K. Traders March 27th, 2016

14 Asst. Manager Korotoa Tea Associates March 28th, 2016

15 Upazilla Livestock Officer- Tetulia

Department of Livestock March 23rd, 2016

16 Upazilla Livestock Officer- Panchagarh

Department of Livestock March 23rd, 2016

17 Upazilla Livestock Officer- Baliadangi

Department of Livestock March 27th, 2016

18 President Small Tea Growers Association

March 28th, 2016

Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI)

Mr. Jayed, Senior Farm Assistant of the office of Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI) was

interviewed to assess the current situation, future prospects; and steps needed to improve the

cultivation practices and market dynamics for the small tea growers of the targeted regions in

Panchagarh and Thakurgaon districts. Mr. Jayed informed that there are six functional tea

factories and two more to come into the market. The detail of the factories is given below:

Page | 60

Tea Factory Bought/own leaf Production in 2015 (made

tea, Kg)

Usual capacity/year (made tea KG)

Highest capacity/year (made tea KG)

Tetulia Tea Company Ltd. (TTCL)

Bought leaf 2,54,531 3,00,000 5,00,000

Korotoa Tea Factory Bought leaf 7,17,367 6,00,000 10,00,000

Green Care Agro Bought leaf 3,13,634 3,50,000 6,00,000

North Bengal Central Tea Factory

Bought leaf 7,52,272 6,00,000 10,80,000

Green Energy Tea Factory Ltd.

Bought leaf 53,000 Experimentally functioning, capacity yet to be determined

Kazi & Kazi Own leaf 4,31,117 3,50,000 6,00,000

Celalan Tea Factory Bought leaf Yet to start operation in Tetulia

Green Field Tea Factory

Bought leaf Yet to start operation in Baliadangi

According to Mr. Jayed; Panchagarh has good future prospects for tea growing as the yield is

higher relative to the prominent tea growing zone Sylhet, although tea produced in Sylhet is

currently of a better quality. He stated that small growers of Panchagarh can produce a higher

yield as their management of their gardens can be more intensive compared to large tea estates.

He described the current picture of tea growing in Panchagarh districts as below-

Category Criterion Number

Small growers 0 to 5 acres 498

Small holder 5 to 19 acres 15

Estate Above 20 acres 9

While talking about the price fluctuation and marketability of tea, Mr. Jayed opined that, the market

and price of green leaves are more stable in Bangladesh. The price is set with the participation of

Bangladesh Tea Board along with representatives of the small tea growers and workers.

Marketability of green leaves is not a problem according to Mr. Jayed as there are six functioning

tea factories in Panchagarh, with an additional two more factories set to join the market. Moreover,

national demand of tea is increasing 2.4% every year. In 2014 national demand for tea was 66.77

million kg.

According to Mr. Jayed, cultivation of tea by small growers is growing fast as there is more tea

cultivable land in Panchagarh where only one crop is cultivated and kept fallow for the rest of the

season. According to him, there is about 16,000 hectares of tea cultivable land of which in 2014

tea is cultivated on 1,683 hectares of land. Farmers are aware about greater return of tea

compared to other opportunity crops cultivable in high lands like sugarcane or vegetable. An acre

of land of tea cultivation can produce approximate revenue of BDT. 2,70,000 against a total

approximate cost of BDT. 70,000. Mr. Jayed stated a statistic of tea production of Panchagarh as

follows; in 2014 Panchagarh produced 14,23,767 kg of made tea and 63,27,727 kg of green leaf.

Whereas, in 2015 the production of made tea was 25,21,912 Kg which is close to double the

previous year.

While talking about financial support to small scale tea growers, Mr. Jayed recalled that,

previously financing support was provided to small tea growers sourced from Rajshahi Krishi

Page | 61

Unnayan Bank (RAKUB), however, most of those loans turned into bad debt for which RAKUB

revoked the scheme for small scale tea growers.

According to Mr. Jayed, small scale tea growers often disregard quality of leaf for the sake of

higher yield. Tea growers pluck leaves in less frequency than is required. Plucking 3.5 leaves to

4.5 leaves a bud is accepted by the factories while farmers often practice plucking when there are

5 to 8 leaves in a bud which give them higher yield and weight but compromises quality. To

motivate small growers to improve quality, factories should offer extra price for better quality of

leaves, Mr. Jayed suggested.

Upazilla Agriculture Office

The survey team interviewed Upazilla agriculture officers of all three sub-districts.

Table 21 Agriculture at a glance

Sadar Upazilla,

Panchagarh (In

hectare)

Tetulia Upazilla,

Panchagarh (In hectare)

Baliadangi Upazilla, Thakurgaon (In hectare)

Total cultivable land 25,800 18,919 28,425

High land 20,640 8,513 15,000

Middle-high land 3,870 9,459 10,080

Middle-low land 1,290 947 3,345

Acreage (hectare) in different crop

Crops Panchagarh Sadar Tetulia Baliadangi

Rice (Aman season) 23,220 12,755 25,000

Boro (Boro season) 2,400 2,580 5,960

Wheat 7,000 1,485 15,000

Chili 2,000 - 2,000

Potato 2,000 786 2,500

Maize 6,000 53 -

Sesame/Mustard 2,000 91 1,200

Jute 3,000 195 1,500

Vegetable 3,500 262 1,000

Note: Data not found for blank fields. Source: Key Informant Interview of DAE official.

Sadar Upazilla, Panchagarh

The Upazilla has a total of 25,800 hectares of cultivable land majority of which are high lands. In

high lands, irrigation is required extensively to cultivate. Moreover, the soil is sandy and acidic in

nature. Rice and wheat are the prominent food crops and maize as the cash crop. Rice in Aman

season is cultivated on about 90% of the cultivable lands whereas Boro is only on about 9% of

cultivable lands. Vegetable is cultivated on 3,500 hectares of land of which 2,000 hectares are

summer tomato as the weather is suitable. The agriculture office stated that about 95% of the

cultivable lands are under irrigation and with proper irrigation; farmers can cultivate three crops a

year. However, the farmers in the Upazilla cultivate two crops a year mostly. He also mentioned

that in about 15% of cultivable lands, only one crop is cultivated a year and the land are kept

fallow for rest of the year. As we asked he explained that the reason behind that is that in sandy

Page | 62

soil, high lands require much irrigation which farmers are not inclined to do. He added that farmers

deem low prices will not pay for the higher cost of production. Moreover, the agriculture office

suggests farmers to sidestep Boro cultivation and do other Robi season crops instead, as Boro

requires higher irrigation and the cultivation cost raises.

The agriculture office also stated that there are numerous government projects working on

developing rural agriculture. He named some such as: The Seed Production Project, The Farm

Mechanization Project, Integrated Farm Management Component (IFMC). However, the

agriculture office did not name any confirmed private sectors project working on agricultural

development.

As we discussed about the prospect of tea cultivation, the agriculture office stated that, about

80% of the high lands are suitable for tea cultivation. The small farmers are inclined to cultivate

tea more as it is a profitable crop. Though, the agriculture office works for improvement of

traditional crops being cultivated by farmers; the higher profitability will stretch farmers from

traditional crops to tea inevitably, he stated.

Tetulia Upazilla, Panchagarh

The agriculture office in Tetulia gave us a detailed picture of agriculture in the Upazilla. He stated

that rice is the prominent crop in the Upazilla followed by wheat. Other than rice and wheat, other

crops are cultivated in lower acreage compared to other two sub-districts. He pointed out the

cropping intensity is important and stated that, people tends to cultivate subsistence crops for

family consumption only. The high price of agricultural labor is one of the reasons behind this.

Laborers working in stone extracting and crushing plants can earn high wages which also raises

the cost of agricultural labor. Traditional cultivation is not profitable after these higher costs.

Moreover he added, about 30% of lands are cultivated with just one crop in a year and kept fallow

for rest of the year for similar reasons to those in Panchagarh Sadar Upazilla.

On the topics of transfer of information on good practices and on-field solutions to crop disease

and pests, he mentioned similar government funded/affiliated projects as Panchagarh Sadar

Upazilla. However, he agreed with the allegation that government services and entitlements are

not reaching farmers properly due to lack of work-force in the office. There are scarcities of

resources which mean the office cannot provide door-to-door services to the farmers.

Baliadangi Upazilla, Thakurgaon

The survey team discussed agriculture in Baliadangi with the Upazilla agriculture office. Mr.

Shafiyar Rahman stated that agriculture in Baliadangi is developing well with technology and good

practices. Farmers use quality inputs i.e. high yielding varieties, quality fertilizer and pesticide.

Lands are cultivated with power-tiller and tractor, not with outdated bulls and ploughs. Improved

and time-efficient threshing machines are used. Moreover, about 100% of the cultivable lands are

under irrigation facility, he added. However, people who lack the investment use sub-optimal

quality fertilizer and pesticide. The agriculture office stated that tea is a new crop to the area and

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people are gradually starting to cultivate it. There are about 110 hectares of lands currently

cultivated tea.

Upazilla Fisheries Office

Tetulia Upazilla, Panchagarh Baliadangi Upazilla, Thakurgaon

Cultivable pond (number) 1,909 1,853

Total pond area (hc.) 173.96 742.08

Area of canal/Bill (hc.) 90 142.44

Area of flood plains (hc.) 500 1,764

Number of fish farmer 1,860 1,730

Number of fishermen 350 1,293

Number of fingerling seller/nursery 32 38

Demand for fingerling (piece) 37,50,000 70,00,000

Production of fingerling (piece) 36,72,000 24,00,000

Demand for fish (M.T.) 2,245.53

Supply of fish (M.T.) 1,362.66

Note: Data not found for blank fields. Source: KII of Upazilla Fisheries Office

The Fisheries sector in the targeted upazillas is still in subsistence stage compared to other

regions of Bangladesh like Mymensingh and Jessore. Commercial culture of fish is not popular in

the targeted region. The fisheries office stated that people in the region culture only carp fish and

most of the culture is for family consumption. As the survey team discussed about reasons for not

happening of commercial culture, we found that there are no hatcheries around the targeted

districts. Farmers have to collect high-valued commercial species i.e. Mono-sex Tilapia, Koi,

Pangus etc. from Dinajpur and Rangpur. For fry and fingerling people in the targeted areas rely

largely on wild sources have a lower yield and profitability than fish culture. Moreover, almost 60%

to 70% of the ponds remain dry in the summer (for 6 months) which further lowers the fish culture

in the area, especially given the fact that the culture technique is not as developed as in

commercial culture. By culture technique, we mean the use of high valued species, use of

commercial ready feed, appropriate pond management, disease control etc. Farmers use

handmade feed as ready feed is not available in Tetulia Upazilla. For feed and chemicals, farmers

have to go to the district level market which further increases cost. Moreover, the fingerling

farmers tend to use are often infected or diseased fingerling which have a higher mortality rate.

As we discussed about the current projects of government working with fisheries sector

development, the fisheries office mentioned some i.e.

▪ Integrated fish and livestock development in flood plain areas program.

▪ Fresh water prawn extension program.

▪ Fish culture technology extension program around Union level.

▪ Registration for fishermen program.

▪ Micro-credit in fisheries sector program etc.

We discussed about whether there is any scope for collaboration and partnership between the

department of fisheries and EqualiTEA. The fisheries office welcomed this and stated that formed

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groups by the project will work as a platform for the department to extend services and

entitlements.

Upazilla Social Welfare Office

The Upazilla Social Welfare Office under the Department of Social Services has numerous

programs for the inclusion of rural ultra-poor. The office mentioned about some of the programs-

• The old age allowance program

• Pro-poor allowance program

• Allowance for differently able citizens program

• Allowance for acid victims program

• Extending loan program for pro-poor (family income below BDT 50,000 a year) etc.

• Extend micro-credit loan program for pro-poor citizens (currently the program is not in

action, will resume soon)

The offices have a program which give an allowance in kind equivalent to BDT 5,000 to the tea

workers. The social welfare offices confirmed that they will expend such allowances to 60 families

in current fiscal year and will extend the program in the next fiscal year.

Upazilla Cooperatives Office

The office of Upazilla cooperatives aims for inclusion of under-privileged and pro-poor under a

common umbrella by forming cooperatives so that rights and entitlements are ensured for them.

The department of cooperatives in Tetulia facilitated a cooperative including small tea growers of

Tetulia named “Majhipara Krishi-Khamar Khudro Cha Chashi Samity”. The cooperative facilitated

the settlement of 314 acres of Khas land of which 180 acres have been cultivated tea. This is a

separate project to the Traidcraft project with no overlap among farmers. The cooperative was

formed to ensure farmers received a fair price from the factories, and to help small tea growers

access services and entitlements. The department confirmed us that the cooperative is in action

and negotiating with government and private bodies to ensure the rights of their members. The

Upazilla cooperatives office informed us that they will work together with EqualiTEA to register

the groups formed by the project under cooperatives directives. Note that the price of tea is set

centrally by the Government of Bangladesh- the cooperative does not affect this price. However

there are sometimes disputes between tea factories as to the amount and quality of tea provided-

which the cooperative can help with.

Upazilla Women Affairs Office

The office of women affairs in Tetulia is currently having some program for the development and

inclusion of under-privileged women. The office named such program for instances-

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▪ Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) program- under the program 30 Kg of rice is

distributed to each of 2,167 under-privileged women in the Upazilla.

▪ Training program on livestock and poultry rearing, entrepreneurial training for initiating

small and micro enterprises, training on small scale vegetable gardening etc.

▪ Extending micro-credit for under-privileged women an amount of BDT 5,000 to 15,000 for

minimal interest rate to start small scale farming.

The office informed us that while women in the region are working in different income generating

activities nowadays; their vulnerability remains high. Income generated by women is not

necessarily eliminating their vulnerability. This is because women have to depend on their male

counterpart for making decisions and daily affairs. The office stated that the dowry practice is still

prevalent in Tetulia and the whole district and people are burdened with high amounts of money

required for a dowry.

Union Parishad Chairman (Local Government)

The Chairman of Dhontola Union Parishad stated that there are about 40% of total 22,500 people

living under poverty. About 90% of the people depend on agricultural income leaving rest 10%

solely dependent on day laborer, porter, rickshaw/van puller and business persons. The Upazilla

contains about 20% of landless people. However, cultivation of small scale tea growing is

stretching people out of poverty, he added. Local entrepreneur Mr. Foyzul established an estate

and also motivated and facilitated small farmers with small scale tea growing. Currently there are

about 70 small tea growers and two estates in Baliadangi. 65 acres of tea estate owned by Mr.

Foyzul, 130 acres estate owned by local parliament member Mr. Dobirul Islam and about 33 acres

of small growers’ garden. The Chairman stated that areas close to India boarder have higher

amount of tea cultivable high land as well as a higher proportion of poverty.

As we discussed drawbacks for agriculture and technology, he suggested that, lack of agriculture

investment is a prime weakness for small and marginal farmers. Small and marginal farmers seem

happy with sub-optimal yield as they consider agriculture as low-input-low-output subsistence

farming. Another fact contributing to lower yield is farmers do not have the opportunity to test soil

and apply appropriate fertilizer and micro-nutrients. Moreover, DAE representatives-SAAOs do

not reach to door to door of small farmers. As we discussed opportunities of agriculture, he pointed

out that, farmers nowadays use high yielding varieties, power tiller for land preparation and

mechanized thresher for agricultural farming which indicates behavioral change of farmers. About

95% of the cultivable lands are under irrigation facility.

4.11. Input Seller

The U.K. Traders is a fertilizer and pesticide dealer in Lahiri bazaar of Baliadangi Upazilla. The

enterprise has the dealership of BADC (government body for extension of macro nutrients), SAMP

Ltd., MAP Agro Ind. Ltd., Krishok Bondhu Aqua Ltd. etc. The enterprise ensured us that all the

pesticides needed for tea cultivation are available there in his shop or to other input sellers in

Lahiri bazaar. There are about 100 fertilizer and pesticide selling shops in the market. The retailer

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confirmed that it can provide supplies of pesticide for red-spider, Aphid, Jasid, tea mosquito etc.

The shop also has stock of fungicide for fungal attack and all kind of macro-fertilizer.

The retailer informed us that he extends credit facilities to the farmers for 3 to 4 months period.

He does not charge any interest for this informal credit service. Intriguingly he added that, people

invest in and apply sufficient inputs for tea cultivation whereas they seem reluctant to do so for

other traditional crops. As we asked about the reasons behind this, he replied that, tea is a

profitable crop and gives farmers with much higher profitability. The shop has 10 to 15 permanent

customers.

4.12. Tea Factory

Korotoa Tea Factory is the bought leaf factory located at Baniapara of Sadar Upazilla,

Panchagarh. The factory informed us that it has a capacity of producing 6,00,000 Kg of made tea

a year in normal operation and it can increase its capacity up to 10,00,000 Kg with optimum

utilization of capacity. As 4.5 Kg of green leaf is required for producing 1 Kg of made tea, the

demand for green leafs stands at 27,00,000 Kg and can process up to 45,00,000 Kg of green leaf

a year. The factory has about 60 acres of own garden from which about 5% of the green leaf is

procured leaving the rest bought from small tea growers. However, in the peak season, (April-

May to October-November) the factory is supplied with over excessive volume of green leaves

than the capacity. In such circumstances, the factory tries to avoid buying leaves; however, if the

factory forced to, the quality of made tea is compromised. The factory does not stated any definite

number of permanent customer, however, in the peak season about 400 to 500 small growers

sell their green leaves to Korotoa tea factory. The factory stated that, price in auction market is

so low that sometimes factories make a loss. He detailed that, to produce 1 Kg of made tea it

costs about BDT 180 (including cost of green leaf, processing cost, carrying cost to auction

market) whereas, price in auction market sometimes get as low as BDT 105 per Kg which forces

the factory to lose money. However, this is not the common scenario, the manager assured us.

Moreover, the manager informs that the reason behind such low price in auction market is the

import of made tea from neighboring countries.

As we discussed about the gap between expectation and reality faced by the factory, the manager

stated that, it is ideal to pluck 2.5 leaves a bud which ensures highest standard of quality. 3.5

leaves or even 4.5 leaves a bud can give good quality of made tea. And that would require a

garden to pluck in every 8 to 10 days plucking cycle. However, small farmers in the area usually

provide green leaves with 5 to even 8 leaves a bud which increases the weight grower gain but

decreases the quality of made tea. Small growers take a 30 to 40 days cycle for plucking. The

factory manager thinks that it is necessary to educate small tea growers and plucking workers on

appropriate methods of plucking.

4.13. Upazilla Livestock Office

Tetulia Upazilla, Panchagarh Sadar Upazilla, Panchagarh

Number of Cow 72,267 95,685

Number of Buffalo 404 846

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Number of Goat 44,608 77,048

Number of Sheep 233 125

Number of Chicken 2,81,127 2,34,450

Number of Duck 17,554 27,324

Number of Pigeon 16,339

Number of dairy farm 5

Number of poultry farm 20

Note: Data of 2014-15; data not found for blank fields. Source: Key Informant Interview with Upazilla Livestock Office.

The upazilla livestock office is authorized to work for the development of the livestock in the

upazilla under which there are numerous programs which are mentioned by the upazilla livestock

office. Among them Artificial Insemination (AI) is the program which requires very minimal amount

of stated rate set by the government. The office also works for motivating farmers in livestock

farming, farm registration program, vaccination program for livestock etc. The office also stated

that there are micro-credit facilities extended by the livestock department on livestock farming.

Any farmer can get up to BDT 20,000 for poultry farming, BDT 15,000 for goat farming and BDT

15,000 for dairy farming. This scheme currently only runs in one livestock office- but is being

extended to all in the project areas. There is no interest charged on the money borrowed, but

there is a 3% service charge. The money has to be repaid in three, equal installments, at a yearly

interval.

The most common diseases for livestock in the area are foot and mouth disease for cattle, PPR

for goat, Plague disease for poultry etc. The office stated that farmers are entitled for getting free

services for livestock disease if the service takes place in the livestock office; however, the service

does not remain free if any farmer calls livestock officials to his place. We discussed the farmers’

allegations that they do not receive services and entitlements and thus have to depend more on

private service providers. The livestock officer agreed that there is a shortage of sufficient human

resource which means it is not possible to ensure services and entitlements to door to door. In

addition, the distances between the livestock office and rural areas where farmers reside also

contributes to the dependence on private service providers.

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ANNEX 3: CASE STUDIES

Information removed for the purposes of data protection. Please contact Traidcraft


ANNEX 4: TERMS OF REFERENCE

Baseline Study of “Sustainable livelihoods for 1,500 smallholder farming households (7,500 people) in the extreme north of Bangladesh” Project

1. Introduction to Traidcraft

For more than 30 years, Traidcraft has been fighting poverty through trade, believing in the

positive and transformational potential of trade to bring hope to millions trapped in poverty. We

believe that trade affects the life of every person and can provide the most sustainable way of

overcoming poverty. Yet markets do not always work in favour of the poor, and often work against

them. This is a major factor contributing to their poverty.

In all our areas of work, Traidcraft plays a key role as catalyst and convenor, encouraging different actors to work together to develop approaches that lead to inclusive economic growth. We have a particularly strong track record of constructive engagement with the private sector as both trading and development partners.

Working with local partners and communities, and engaging with the private sector, other non-

governmental and governmental bodies, our interventions revolve around three inter-related

areas:

• Trade: facilitating access to local, regional and international markets for small enterprises. • Support: building the capacity of poor producers to trade effectively, helping them form

enterprises and collaborative groups and equipping them with business skills. • Influence: challenging injustice and encouraging changes in government policies, corporate

practices and public attitudes to trade, development and poverty.

We assist those who are economically marginalised and the communities in which they operate.

We pay particular attention to women, rural communities, and small enterprises (including

smallholder farmers).

2. Project Background and Context



Project duration 36 months (from October 2015to September 2018)

Project budget £614,565

Donors UK AID

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Implementing agency and partners

The project is managed by Traidcraft Exchange (TX) and co-implemented by Bikash Bangladesh

Despite making good progress, Bangladesh is still one of the world’s least developed countries, ranking 146 out of 187 countries on the 2013 Human Development Index. According to the 2013 Human Development Report, 58% of the population lives in multi-dimensional poverty. Research also shows that economic conditions have not improved for much of the population (World Bank).

Our target communities are isolated with few livelihood options. Farming households are classed as ‘extreme’ poor as average per capita income per day is about 50 BDT (£0.42) based on average annual household income of 90,416 BDT (£753) and a family size of 5. This is well below international and national poverty lines. People also fare poorly with regard to other socio-economic indicators; 71% live in multi-dimensional poverty, over 60% are illiterate, 63% are in debt and there are high levels of malnutrition (about 43%). Families spend about 50% of their income on food.

Communities in the extreme north of Bangladesh are isolated with few livelihood options. Research has shown that tea is one of the few crops suitable for cultivation in the target areas. The sandy acidic soil is problematic for many crops but perfect for tea cultivation. Domestic demand for tea is also growing. Smallholder tea growing therefore provides an opportunity to reduce poverty in these very remote areas. Through provision of tea saplings and technical training, encouraging farmers to work together and ensuring a critical support network, the project will directly benefit 7,500 people.

Tea cultivation can also help improve the ecology by reducing landslides, soil erosion and ground water depletion and increasing soil fertility. However, smallholder tea growing is fairly new in Bangladesh, and there is no comprehensive programme to promote smallholder tea growing in the region. This project will therefore promote tea cultivation as a sustainable livelihood option in a region which has limited agricultural production, and high levels of unemployment and migration, alongside encouraging crop diversification, improving general agricultural practices and encouraging the adoption of additional livelihood generating activities. Thus the project can help to increase resilience through reducing dependence on any one source of income.

Since 2006-07 Bangladesh started importing tea, in 2010-11 traders imported 5.79 million Kg tea. Low priced imported tea caused price of tea in auction to drop and large quantity of tea remained unsold due to withheld of auctions in 2014 in Bangladesh. In recent years the STG sector has grown in numbers, acreage, and production in Bangladesh. As per BTB, around 40,000 acres of sandy and acidic land in three northern districts can be cultivated for growing small-scale tea. This is where the EqualiTEA III project could make an impact by increasing number of STGs and thereby increasing tea production.

This project will create sustainable income source for 1500 small tea growers through tea cultivation in small gardens in Northern Bangladesh and also from other income generating activities. It is a proven option for poor and marginalised communities to get permanently out of poverty and the project also try to develop an inclusive value-chain for small tea growers.

Problem faced by the small farmers in this region:

• Smallholder farmers lack know-how about good agricultural practices that could help them get the most out of their sandy, acidic soil. They also lack access to services or support.

• Smallholder farmers have very few resources to invest in their agriculture. A lack of access to proper sources of credit prevents farmers from improving their agricultural practices, purchasing quality inputs such as fertilisers and irrigation, and entering/expanding into tea

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cultivation.

• Because of their remote location and poor soil composition, smallholder farmers depend on a limited number of crops. Failure to get a decent yield or a fair price therefore has a significant and negative impact on their ability to afford basics such as food and healthcare.

The target communities are remote and lack any sort of collective identity. Without this small-

holder farmers are even more vulnerable, and unable to benefit from shared learning, economies

of scale (through group purchasing/selling), collective negotiation and lobbying/advocacy etc. In

order to address these problems several approaches will be taken simultaneously:

1. Encouraging smallholder farmers to work collectively and collaboratively. This will involve: 1.1) Organising smallholder farmers into local groups and a regional farmer association; 1.2) Building the capacity of the groups and regional association; and 1.3) Conducting tea sector research (with a focus on smallholder tea growers) and developing a policy position paper and action plan.

2. Developing strong agricultural enterprises through better farming and business practices and diversification into tea. This will involve: 2.1) Raising awareness with prospective smallholder tea growers; 2.2) Training smallholder farmers on tea and agricultural cultivation; 2.3) Providing loans for saplings and facilitating buy-back agreements with tea factories; and 2.4) Facilitating access to other inputs. Once the loans for saplings are repaid they will be used to establish a revolving fund that will be used to facilitate new entrants into tea cultivation and scale up impact (see 4.8).

3. Ensuring smallholder farmers have access to appropriate ongoing agricultural services. This will include: 3.1) Training 120 barefoot service providers; and 3.2) Building linkages between farmers and private/public service providers.

4. Developing systems to support smallholder farming households to diversify their income. This will include: 4.1) Capacity building of groups on group savings and investment schemes; 4.2) Building links with financial institutions; and 4.3) Capacity building for additional income-generating activities. This activity will have a particular focus on empowering women as experience has shown that as women start to contribute more to household income they will become more confident and gain more respect within their family and community (see 4.10)

The project will work to provide sustained support to the disadvantaged small farmers for

enhancing skills and capacity for growing tea, increasing income, increased access to

entitlements and services. The interventions will facilitate inclusive economic growth of small and

marginal tea growers by promoting potential economic activities to strengthen resilient livelihoods.

The project will build a partnership between small growers and tea companies in delivering

positive and long term benefits for both sides. The project is designed for a specific region where

tea growing for small farmers provides a sustainable solution for poverty alleviation.

This project attempts to take advantage of market opportunities to find solutions to extreme

poverty in Northern Bangladesh. Very small and marginal farmers have the opportunity to enter

a new supply chain and engage effectively with other market players to deliver win-win outcomes

for everyone involved. The project is working to ensure income to the extreme poor, profits to

business partners, availability of tea to meet strong market demand, and deliver a model of

poverty alleviation that can be scaled up for other poor communities.

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The target group for this project are the most marginal and small men and women farmers who

own a small piece of land which is ideal for tea cultivation but cannot start tea garden due to lack

of capital and technical skills.

The project will also raise awareness about the government services/support available to small-

scale tea farmers whilst also supporting groups/associations to lobby for the proper

implementation of existing policies.

The project will work to achieve the following Outcomes:

• Output 1: 1,500 smallholder farming households are working collectively and collaboratively to increase their resilience.

• Output 2:1,500 smallholder farming households improve their agricultural practices and start cultivating tea in order to increase their income and reduce their vulnerability.

• Output 3: 1,500 smallholder farming households have appropriate ongoing services/support for agricultural cultivation.

• Output 4: Systems in place to support smallholder farming households to diversify their income and increase their resilience

The project log frame is attached as Annex 2 and will be considered as an integral part of the TOR.

3. Purpose and Objectives of the Baseline Study

The purpose of this baseline study is to provide an independently assessed information base against which to monitor and assess the project’s progress and effectiveness during implementation and after project completion.

Being effectively the first step in the project monitoring and evaluation system, the baseline study is an early element of the project monitoring framework. The framework is based on the project log frame (attached as annex2), which includes the expected project outputs, the indicators of achievement and the potential sources of information. The baseline study gathers the information to be used in subsequent assessments of how efficiently the activity is being implemented and the eventual results of the project. The mid-term review and final project evaluation will judge progress largely by comparing recent data with the information of the baseline study.

Key project indicators and data to be gathered:

Please see the Annex 1

4. Audience for the baseline study

This independent baseline study is commissioned by Traidcraft and will be shared with project staff and participants, management and staff of Traidcraft and its partners, project associates, project donors, other relevant actors.

5. Geographical Coverage

The project is being implemented in two north most districts of Bangladesh i.e. Panchagarh (specifically Tetulia and Panchagarh Sadar sub-districts) and Thakurgaon (Baliadangi sub-district).

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6. The Baseline Study Process and Methodology

The baseline study should be conducted in a participatory manner to bring the multiple perspectives from key stakeholders in assessing the current situation of the target beneficiaries and the context within which the project is located.

A Project Monitoring & Evaluation Group will be established to both inform and support the project monitoring and evaluation processes. This will comprise key project staff from Traidcraft and its partners in country, as well as key staff from Traidcraft’s UK office.

It is envisaged that the baseline study methodology will include:

• A desk review/research of project information including the key documents listed in these terms of reference.

• A planning meeting with the project management team to gain a deeper understanding of the project and to review the project log frame to ensure clarity and shared understanding of what needs to be measured and the most appropriate and effective means of gathering the data (including identification of any known key informants).

• An initial 2-3 day scoping visit to the project location to :

i. gain an understanding of the conditions in which the baseline study will be undertaken – for example, the season of the year, the prevailing political conditions, the state of the economy, any cultural divisions, and recent or expected extraordinary events such as natural disasters, political upheavals or economic shocks.

ii. conduct a mapping exercise to inform the selection of interviewees for the farmer survey, focus group discussions, in-depth case studies, and key informant interviews

iii. identify what information already exists that can feed into the baseline study.

• Following this initial scoping visit, a further meeting with the project management team to present and discuss the detailed plan and methodology for gathering and analyzing the baseline data required, including the process for selecting interviewees.

• Design and preparation of the farmer survey including: preparation of a clear, logical and simple questionnaire, which will include all required information and can be encoded without difficulty; pre-testing in the project location and finalization of the questionnaire; organizing logistics in the field.

• Design and preparation of farmer focus group discussions and key informant interviews as agreed with the Project management Team.

• Conduct questionnaire-based farmer survey (through individual interviews with 225 EqualiTEA III farmers; 12 focus group discussions and 18 key informant interviews (6 from each sub-district).

• Develop in-depth case studies - the field work should include in-depth interviews with 10-12(number to be agreed with project management team) participating farmers to provide the basis for individual case studies that can be tracked throughout the life of the project so that we can better understand how their situations change as a result of the project. The case studies should include photographs of the farmers and their households.

• Data analysis (including data masking and database development). The consultant would normally present a preliminary overview of their findings to the project management team in-country and receive comments from them before preparing the draft evaluation report. Subsequently, the consultant submits the draft report to the project management team for

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written comment before finalizing the report, to minimize the chance of inaccuracies and to maximize ownership of the findings.

The methodology should ensure that:

• both quantitative and qualitative methods should be incorporated into the baseline study and that more visual forms of information are included, for example, photographs, maps, diagrams

• the extent to which the daily life of the farmers being studied is disrupted is minimised – from the perspective of both men and women

• questions included in the survey provides information that will enable more effective analysis (for example, gender of farmer, age, ethnicity, level of education, size and gender make-up of household, size of land holding, types of crops grown, assets owned) – the specific information required should be agreed with the project management team during the planning meetings.

7. Documents that we will provide

▪ The approved project proposal document ▪ The approved project Logical Framework ▪ List of target beneficiaries ▪ List of other project stakeholders

8. Expected Deliverables

The main deliverables will be a final report of the baseline. The content of the report will be in the following:

▪ Contents page

▪ Abbreviations and acronyms page

▪ Executive Summary

▪ A short introduction to the project

▪ Methodology (including a clear explanation of the data collection methods used so that these can be effectively replicated during subsequent monitoring and evaluation processes)

▪ Baseline findings

▪ Small case studies/anecdotes and quotes from project beneficiaries and other stakeholders on relevant topics under baseline report

▪ Conclusions

▪ Annexes including: TOR, list of interviewees, survey questionnaire, focus group and key informant interview guides, raw data sheet, the final version of the Logical Framework with the baseline figures inserted, in-depth case studies on 10-12 participating farmers.

A concise power point presentation of the final baseline report should also be prepared (to be submitted in a CD/ DVD form). All documents, papers and data produced during the assessment are to be treated as the property of Traidcraft and Bikash Bangladesh and restricted for public use. The contracted agency/consultant will submit all original documents, materials and data to the contracting organization.

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9. Budget

Total Fees and expenses: up to £ 5,000 (including Vat and Tax)

10. Timetable for Baseline Study

The baseline study should be completed by March 2016.There is a tight timeframe for the

research of this project and the consultant would need to work around the following dates:

Activity Deadlines

Sending TOR to Consultants/ Agencies no

later than

27th January 2016

Receipt of Proposals (EOI) 9thFebruary 2016

Selection of Consultant & Communication of

Results

14th February 2016

Completion of contracting formalities 15th February 2016

Work commences 16th February 2016

Submission of Questionnaire and FGD Tool 23rd February 2016

Submission of draft Report 20thMarch 2016

Comments on the draft report ( From TXHQ

and TXBD) and sending to consultant

24thMarch 2016

Submission of final report 28thMarch 2016

11. Application Process

Interested organizations, individuals are requested to submit their Expression of Interest (EoI)

either in hard copy or electronically to the following address on or before 9th February 2016:

Md. Haroon-Or-Rashid Sarker

Project Coordinator

Sustainable livelihoods for 1,500 smallholder farming households (7,500 people) in the extreme north of Bangladesh (EqualiTEA III) Traidcraft Exchange, Bangladesh Country Office

Flat 1B, House 11, Road 13 (new)

Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1209, Bangladesh

Tel: +88 02- 9119555

M+: 8801743969760

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The EoI should include

▪ Contact details ▪ Up to date and detailed CV of the consultant(s)with brief descriptions of similar assignments ▪ A clear overview of how this piece of work will be approached, the methodology proposed and

the outputs generated, with a clear timeline for each of the specified activity and a budget apportioned for the assignment

▪ Two references

The EOI, excluding the consultant CVs, should not be more than 10 pages long, should have

single spacing, and use Arial typeface with a minimum font size of 10.

For any queries on the TOR please contact Md. Haroon-Or-Rashid Sarker,

(Project Coordinator), Traidcraft Exchange, Bangladesh Country Office)

12. Selection Criteria

On receipt of the EOI designated project management team will study the proposals including an interview, and take a decision about the consultant/s/ agency for the study. Selection of the consultant/s/ agency will be based on:

Selection Criteria Scores

Quality of the proposed plan – well thought out, logical, strong methodology and approach, well-timed, level of details, would meet objectives

10

Experience of conducting baseline studies of livelihoods projects 10

Knowledge / Experience on agriculture sector especially small-scale agriculture, farmer group and association management, public and private service provisions, vulnerability to natural disaster and climate change, etc.

10

Availability during the period of the project 10

Costs – value for money 10

TOTAL 50

At the beginning of the evaluation process, project staff will meet and hold a briefing session with the consultant/consulting firm to agree on the overall study methodology and highlight any key issues to be addressed.

13. Mode of Payment

Total fees for the evaluation will be paid in three installments:

1. 30 percent of the total fee will be paid on signing the contract

2. 40 percent of the total fee will be paid after submission of the draft report

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3. The remaining amount (30 percent) will be paid upon acceptance of the final report.

For each installment, the payments would be made in crossed cheque by the name of the organization / individual.

General terms and conditions

▪ Traidcraft and Bikash Bangladesh reserve the right to accept or reject any proposal without giving any verbal and/or written rationale;

▪ All reports and documents prepared during the assignment will be treated as property of Traidcraft and Bikash Bangladesh

▪ The reports/documents or any part, therefore, cannot be sold, used and reproduced in any manner without prior written approval of Traidcraft and Bikash Bangladesh;

▪ Traidcraft and Bikash Bangladesh reserve the right to monitor the quality and progress of the work during the assignment.

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Key project indicators and data to be gathered

Project indicators (from the project log frame)

Information that needs to be collected at the baseline

Methods of collection to be considered

Goal

The proportion of people whose income is less than national poverty level in the target districts

• Annual household income Survey of farmers

Purpose

1500 smallholder farming households in the extreme north of Bangladesh have reduced poverty and more sustainable livelihoods through tea cultivation

• Annual household income

• Sources of income – where does it come from?

Survey of farmers (Might be useful to use a seasonal calendar approach to assessing sources of income at different times of the year.)

Number of farmers who perceive an improvement in their wellbeing

• A wellbeing survey will be carried out as an integral part of the baseline. Traidcraft will train selected firms’ survey team on wellbeing concept, methodology and data collection tools.

Output 1

1,500 smallholder farming households are working collectively and collaboratively to increase their resilience.

• Are there any existing farmers groups? How many? What types / functions.

• How many of the farmers (part of the baseline) are members of groups

• If so, how many of these groups are currently taking collective actions? What issues, what results/

• Survey of farmers (question on whether or not they are currently a member of a group and what type)

• Key informant interviews& focus group discussions with farmers on issues/ results


• Are any existing farmers groups currently negotiating with local stakeholders? If so, how many? What types of services / resources, to what result?

• Key informant interviews

• Focus group discussions with farmers

Proportion of target households that perceive benefits from group membership

• If there are any existing farmers groups, do they perceive any benefits from belonging to a group? What benefits?

• Focus group discussions with farmers

• Survey of farmers (if a member of a group, ask if they perceive any benefits)

Output 2

1,500 smallholder farming households improve their agricultural practices and start cultivating tea in order to increase their income and reduce their vulnerability.

• Current level of production costs (baseline team may need to develop a matrix that asks for costs for each input and the quantity they use per bigha) across crops

• Survey of farmers

• Farmer focus group discussions with farmers

Average yield (in kg) of tea (before processing) per acre

• Current levels of productivity [define unit to be used–by year, by bigha?]



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(disaggregated by male/female headed households)

• How much fallow land and how much land used for other crops are farmers using for tea cultivation?


Proportion of target household income earned from tea cultivation (disaggregated by male/female headed households)

• Current levels of yield per acre for existing crops per season [define period to be used.]

• Background information on potential for increase in productivity for different crops to assess where farmers are currently in relation to this.



(Might be useful to use a seasonal calendar approach to help farmers relate more details.)

Output 3:

1,500 smallholder farming households have appropriate ongoing services/support for agricultural cultivation.

• Existing policies, practices or resources in place that support farmers.

• Issues around policies (gaps, information, implementation, attitude of officials)

• Mapping exercise of support services and policies exist


• Focus group discussions with farmers (e.g. how much do they know about the policies being developed and the gaps.)

Proportion of target households that are satisfied with the services/support provided by barefoot service providers

• What services do farmers need, where do they get them from, what services are missing, quality of services, what does it cost (affordability).

• Level and nature of existing provision of public and private services to target farmers

• Mapping exercise of support services and policies exist

• Interviews with key informants

• Focus groups discussions with farmers

(Need to differentiate between services provided by the private sector and the government and discuss separately.)


• How many farmers received services from public and/or private service providers?

• Expectations from these service providers? What types of services they need?

• If any farmers are currently receiving services, how satisfied are they with these services? What needs to change?

• Mapping exercise


• Focus groups discussions with farmers

Number of acres (tea and non-tea) benefiting from agricultural improvements (fertilisers, irrigation etc.) (disaggregated by male/female headed households)

• How much land farmers at present cultivating with improved agricultural practices? (conducting soil test, using required amount of fertilizers and pesticides, etc.)



• Where possible observation

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Output 4

Systems in place to support smallholder farming households to diversify their income.

• Number and type of crops currently grown by farmers / which ones are better (in terms of return)/ analysis of cash vs. food crops.

• Number and type of environmentally friendly alternative income generating activities farmers are presently using. [For the survey we might need to provide a checklist of the main practices involved.]

Mapping (so that researchers are familiar with the range of agricultural practices in the area.) Survey of farmers


• Currently how many households have adopted an alternative income-generating activity?




Amount of savings mobilised from target households (disaggregated by male/female headed households)

• How much savings the farmers have currently?

• How many and what type of Investment Schemes (Sanchay Patra, Fixed Deposit, etc.) the farmers using now?

• Number and type of safety (other sources of income or savings) measures currently used by farmers.

Develop questions to cover main measures involved, e.g.:

• Do farmer households have savings, insurance, etc.

• What do they do in event of drought, flash floods?

• Have they experienced any of these in the last 5 years? With what impact?

• What suggestions do they have in terms of dealing with climate change?

• Are they open to crop changes? Are they aware of farmers who have changed crops, done any other thing to reduce negative impact of climate change?


A group savings and investment fund is available to invest in new income-generating activities

• How many farmers have access to finance?

• How many farmers have own fund?

•

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• How many farmers have existing loans and what is the amount of loan?

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ANNEX 5 LOGICAL FRAMEWORK MATRIX

Sustainable livelihoods for 1,500 smallholder farming households (7500 people) in the extreme north of Bangladesh

Impact Indicator 1 Baseline Milestone 1 Milestone 2 Target (date)

Percentage change in the proportion of population below national poverty line in target districts (or region depending on information available)

Planned 38% (2013) 28% (2018)

Achieved

Source

Local government statistics and records (if available)

Impact Indicator 2 Baseline Milestone 1 Milestone 2 Target (date)

Planned

Achieved

Source

Outcome Indicator 1 Baseline Milestone 1 (2016)

Milestone 2 (2017)

Target (date) (2018)

Assumptions

Average increase in annual household income of target farmer households (disaggregated by male/female headed households)

Planned (2015) Mean Household income- BDT 89,412 Panchagarh- BDT 89,278 Tetulia- BDT 96,755 Baliadangi- BDT 83,119

10% 40% 70% Economic conditions are stable and conducive to small-scale agriculture and tea cultivation Bangladesh Government continues to promote small scale tea growing, agricultural growth and food security Natural disasters do not undermine project impact

Achieved

Source

Baseline and project progress report, focus group discussions, smallholder tea growers record, annual and final project evaluations

Outcome Indicator 2 Baseline Milestone 1 (2016)

Milestone 2 (2017) Target (date) (2018)

Number of farmers who perceive an improvement in their wellbeing

Planned To be assessed 10% (300 of 3000) (150 men and 150 women)

40% (1200 of 3000) (600 men and 600 women)

80% (2400 of 3000) (1200 men and 1200 women)

Achieved

Source

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Baseline and project progress report, annual and final project evaluations

DFID (£) Appeal income (£) Other (£) Total (£) DFID SHARE (%)

614565 0 0 614565 100%

Output Indicator 1.1 Baseline Milestone 1 (2016)


Assumption


Planned 0 (2015) 15 60 60 Smallholder farmers, groups and associations are willing to work together Strong leaders are available for the groups and associations Local authorities and other stakeholders engage with the project Government bodies and officials recognise the associations as farmer representative bodies

Achieved

Source

Baseline and project progress report, focus group discussions, smallholder tea growers group register, annual and final project evaluations



Proportion of target households that perceive benefits from group membership

Planned 0 (2015) 40% (600 households of a total of 1500) (480 male headed HHs and 120 female headed HHs)

75% (1125 households of a total of 1500) (900 male headed HHs and 225 female headed HHs)


Achieved

Source


Output Indicator 1.3 Baseline Milestone 1 Milestone 2 Target (date)

Planned

Achieved

Source RISK RATING

Low


102103 0 0 102103 100%

DFID (FTEs)

2.25



Assumptions

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Average yield (in kg) of tea (before processing) per acre (disaggregated by male/female headed households)

Planned 0 (2015) 951 2167 3,901 (6,174 by 2020, i.e. after 5 years)

Smallholder farmers see the benefits of tea cultivation Smallholder farmers do not want to convert all their land to tea Smallholder farmers are willing to adapt practices and use new knowledge and skills

Achieved

Source

Baseline and project progress report, focus group discussions, smallholder tea growers production record, annual and final project evaluations



Proportion of target household income earned from tea cultivation (disaggregated by male/female headed households)

Planned 0 (2015) 10% 23% 42%

Achieved

Source

Baseline and project progress report, focus group discussions, smallholder tea growers production record, annual and final project evaluations

Output Indicator 2.3 Baseline Milestone 1 Milestone 2 Target (date)

Planned

Achieved

Source RISK RATING

Low


325300 0 0 325300 100%

DFID (FTEs)

2.7



Assumptions

Proportion of target households that are satisfied with the services/support provided by barefoot service providers

Planned 0 (2015) 40% (600 households of a total of 1500) (480 male headed HHs and 120



Smallholder farmers see the value of technical and business services Tea companies see a business case for

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female headed HHs)

working with smallholder tea growers Service providers have adequate technical expertise and knowledge Achieved

Source





Planned

14.1% (28/199)

750 (600 male headed HHs and 150 female headed HHs)



Achieved

Source




Number of acres (tea and non-tea) benefiting from agricultural improvements (fertilisers, irrigation etc.) (disaggregated by male/female headed households)

Planned Respondents saying they used this: Soil Test – 0% Organic Fertilizer – 93% Planting bush/stick – 21.1% Pheromone Trap – 0% Leaf Colour Chart – 0% Improved Irrigation – 0.5% Advanced Wet & Dry – 0% Follow advice of local agricultural officers on amount of fertilizer used – 5.5%

1200 2400 3,000

Achieved

Source RISK RATING

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Baseline and project progress report, focus group discussions, smallholder tea growers Production record, smallholder tea growers group register, annual and final project evaluations

Low


73285 0 0 73285 100%

DFID (FTEs)

1.8



Assumptions


Planned 0 %(2015) [Note: 77% of surveyed respondents have secondary source of income other than agriculture]


40%(600 households of a total of 1500) (480 male headed HHs and 120 female headed HHs)


Farmers see the benefits of group savings Farmers willing to adapt and invest alternative income-generating options

Achieved

Source




Amount of savings mobilised from target households (disaggregated by male/female headed households)

Planned 0 (2015) £7,512 £22,539 £37,566

Achieved

Source

Baseline and project progress report, smallholder tea growers savings record, bank statements, annual and final project evaluations



A group savings and investment fund is available to invest in new income-generating activities

Planned £0 (2015) £0 £18,000 £18,000

Achieved

Source RISK RATING

Baseline and project progress report, smallholder tea growers savings record, bank statements, annual and final project evaluations

Low


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113877 0 0 113877 100%

DFID (FTEs)

2.25

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