Photo from UNICEF BAngladesh

DHAKA, March 16, 2025 (BSS) - Women at haor upazila Austagram in Kishoreganj district are becoming cattle and fish farmer day by day. Once the women of the region were worked for only agriculture, now they are becoming self-reliant and self-dependant by farming cattle and fish. Local Krishi Bank helps them providing easy loan.

Khodeza Begum, who resides at Sadoynagar of Dewghar union under the upazila said she has a farm with 15 cattle. Primarily, she started the farm with two cattle. Her husband Rahim Mia had given the money to buy two cattle in 2018. In the next year, she went to Austagram Krishi Bank and applied for taka two lakh loans. After few days, completing some formalities, Austagram Krishi Bank gives taka one lakh loan to her.

"Now I have a dream of expanding my farm. I have already discussed with the officers of Krishi Bank. They have assured me of giving taka three lakh loan as I have refunded the previous loan with the interest. The credit officer has told me that I can get taka more than three lakhs after approval from higher authority if I get reputation of good loans. I wish, my cattle farm will be a big farm in my area one day," said the energetic lady.

Another woman Joshna Begum of Bhatsala village under Kastul union of Austagram upazila has established herself as a pioneer women entrepreneur in the village. She has a fish farm which includes two medium size ponds.

The woman with self dignity said she leads the fish farm along with her husband Kismat Mia and two women day labors. "I work 8-12 hours daily at my firm. Besides fish farming, I am cultivating many vegetables at the bank of the two ponds. I earn Taka two-three lakhs every year from my fish farm and selling vegetables in the local market. I have a plan to dig a big pond and have already bought a land for this project", she said.  

By getting inspiration from them, many women of the haor area are showing interest to built cattle and fish farm which will add new dimension in the country's economy.  

Austagram Krishi Bank credit officer Enamul Islam said they are giving special loan to poor, ultra poor, widow and helpless women who are unable find cash capital anywhere else to run a business or run an agricultural farm. 

"Normally we give agro loan in the category of cattle farming and fish farming with nine percent interest rate which is lower than other banks. One can repay the loan with interest in quarterly or annually. For this reason, credit borrowers get flexibility to repay the loan instead of monthly installment," he said.

He also said, "After scrutinizing old loan files, I have found that most of the credit borrowers are male. That's why I have taken initiative to increase the women credit borrowers. Women will always get preference to get various loans. We will encourage women to become entrepreneur as per the government direction."