In Q1 2022, a group of 40 ‘Master Farmers’ in Bangladesh are being trained on broiler and layer management practices, as part of the PoultryTechBangladesh cooperation.
PoultryTechBangladesh
The Netherlands and Bangladesh work together to strengthen the Bangladeshi poultry sector. The public-private partnership PoultryTechBangladesh comprises leading complementary (non-competitive) parties from various steps in the poultry value chain, which enables to provide Bangladeshi companies integrated solutions. The partnership aims to strengthen business relations between stakeholders in the Dutch and Bangladeshi poultry value chain, resulting in increased trade, investment and cooperation, and to contribute to a more competitive and sustainable poultry sector in Bangladesh.
PoultryTechBangladesh has been developed and is coordinated by Larive International and LightCastle Partners and includes ten companies and knowledge institutes being Aeres Training Centre International, Aftab Bahumukhi Farms, Hato, Hendrix Genetics, Kazi Farms, Marel Poultry, Mavitec, Nutreco, Royal Pas Reform and Van Aarsen. The initiative is co-funded by the Government of the Netherlands.
Broiler and layer train-the-trainer approach
In January 2022, a group of 40 Master Farmers have been selected from the Bangladeshi poultry sector, who will have a key role in knowledge transfer and providing technical assistance to local farmers in the coming years. Via a train-the-trainer approach, the Master Trainers will be enabled to share the latest insights in broiler and layer farm management practices, didactic skills and practical training material to successfully train local poultry farmers.
The implementation of the Master Farmers training program is led by Aeres Training Centre International, Larive International and its Bangladesh-based affiliate LightCastle Partners. Training topics include biosecurity, brooding & DOC quality, bird handling, recording & analysis, housing systems, hot weather management, feed management, farm management, rearing, beak trimming & feather pecking, egg quality, health, medication and vaccination. At the end of the broiler and layer programs, the Master Farmers will write an improvement plan for a broiler or layer farm.
From April 2022 onwards, the Master Trainers will provide practical training programs to local broiler and layer farmers. The objective of these programs is to increase the knowledge level of farm managers (and indirectly their employees), focusing on farm equipment and biosecurity (poultry housing criteria, water supply, heating, light, and ventilation) and applied management (brooding management, monitoring, feed, litter and transport management). Furthermore, attention is paid to creating awareness about food safety, animal welfare and reducing environmental impact. Ultimately, this will result in better technical performance of the farmers.
Iris Boom, Project Manager PoultryTechBangladesh:” The train-the-trainer approach allows local farmers to contribute to local sector development. This is a future-proof model as the Dutch expertise and knowledge will be locally embedded.”
Upcoming activities PoultryTechBangladesh
Besides the training programs, PoultryTechBangladesh conducts studies, establishes demonstration farm, hatchery & slaughterhouse facilities, demonstrates best practices and implement capacity building activities. The partners of the PoultryTechBangladesh consortium will visit Bangladesh from 20 – 24 February 2022 to visit poultry facilities and meet with Bangladeshi private and public stakeholders, to get a better understanding of the local sector and how to positively contribute to sustainable sector development.
Anne van Leeuwen, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Bangladesh: “After 50 years of constructive bilateral cooperation, the Netherlands is shifting its policy in Bangladesh from primarily development cooperation towards a stronger focus on economic cooperation. During this transition phase, we encourage Dutch companies to seek opportunities and support with strengthen value chains in Bangladesh, in sectors where they have added value. I feel that public-private partnerships are excellent modes of cooperation, and I am excited about the PoultryTechBangladesh project. I am confident that the involved parties will contribute to a more sustainable, inclusive and responsible poultry sector in Bangladesh. Building a competitive sector through good business relations now will pave the way for cooperation in the years to come”.
More information
For any questions about PoultryTechBangladesh, please contact Iris Boom at [email protected]. In case of questions for the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh, please reach out to the economic affairs department via [email protected]. For the latest updates follow us on Facebook.
