Food security rises significantly in monga-hit areas
Food security for the people under Programme Initiative for Monga Eradication (PRIME) project of Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) in Monga vulnerable areas in greater Rangpur has risen to 96 per cent in 2014 from only 4 per cent in 2008 due the projects intervention, said a study of Institute of Microfinance (InM).
The study which was revealed at a conference on Pathway out of Extreme Poverty in Bangladesh: The PRIME experience, jointly oraganised by InM and PKSF at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre(BICC) yesterday, shows that people of Monga prone area in 2014 find works 21 days in a month, while in Monga time people hardly get any works. Access to microfinance increased 82.2 per cent, and to social safety net programmes to 35.4 per cent. Yearly income of a Monga affected people lifted to Tk 79,000 in 2014 from Tk 37,000 in 2007.
The study had been run on 5,000 families who received financial services under PRIME, a project implemented by PKSF which was introduced in 2006 to provide financial services to extreme poor households through PKSFs 16 micro financial institutions (MFIs) in five districts of the north- western part of the country.
Matiya Chowdhury, agricultural minister, who was present at the programme as the chief guest, said: Alongside the government, PKSF has been working to alleviate poverty in the Monga prone areas, which is undoubtedly appreciable. But this contribution in the development in the lives of the north-western people should be expanded throughout the country as 4 crore people are still poor and 12.4 per cent people live below the poverty line.
There should be a sustainable connection between production and income for the people in the invested areas. If the products produced by a farmer do not get proper marketing, the fortune of that farmer will hardly be changed. So, alongside the government, PKSF will have to continue ensuring that marketing, she added.
Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmed, chairman of InM, said: We are on the way to turn Bangladesh into a middle income country by 2021. So it is proper time to take proper loan policy keeping micro-credit aside. We are thinking of providing big amount of loans to the less privileged people so that they might taste sustainable progress.
PKSF, alongside providing micro-credit, has also emphasised on health, education and training, said the chairman of InM.
The main objectives of PRIME project was assisting people to cope with seasonal loss of livelihood causing Monga by offering the extreme poor credits at lower interests and creating diversified income sources within the households in a way that will eradicate Monga. Presently the programme is carried out by 221 branches of 16 MFIs.
