Monsur Ali, 45, an entrepreneur has set up an example of a sustainable business developing a dairy farm at Nabdiganj village in Pirgacha of Rangpur.
Once a private college teacher, Monsur is now earning around Tk 2-3 lakh monthly from the farm. He has become a model farmer cum businessman in the region.
Sources said he completed a diploma in mechanical engineering from Rangpur Polytechnic Institute. He had to lead his family of six members with the two bighas of land.
The eldest son of his parents, Monsur taught in a private technical college for around two years after completing his diploma in his early career. He could not somehow manage his family expenses with the little amount of income. He felt frustrated and determined to do a sustainable business.
Later, he left the job and started an independent business nine years back. Initially, he started a small dairy farm at his house by lending two cows from one of the neighbours. He used to rear up the cows receiving training from the Department of Livestock Services and get benefits.
Gradually, he bought fresh cows and extended the farm. Now he is a registered dairy farm owner in the district. He has owned 18 hybrid cows in the farm that give around 200 litres of milk every day.
‘’I could not be satisfied as I had not been contributing much for the family serving my early job, so I left the job and started an independent business amid the challenges’’, said Monsur.
He said he has set up a complete structured dairy farm now on a separate land adjacent to his house spending Tk 10 lakh. He collects around 200 litres of milk from the farm regularly. Meeting all the expenses including family, he could save money. So, he started thinking of an alternative business and developed a sweet factory named - AKM Agro & Sweets at his home.
He opened a small outlet in the local village market to sell his factory products. His sales are good as the varieties are prepared with fresh farm milk. Sweets of different varieties are being produced in his factory which has huge demand locally.
He has engaged some 12 people to look after his dairy farm and the factory. He earns Tk 2.5 to 3 lakh every month excluding all expenses. Moreover, he can earn at least Tk 10-12 lakh selling sacrificial animals every year. He is planning to expand his business more by opening a sweet shop in the upazila headquarters market this year.
He also said today’s young people are running after certain jobs after completion of their degree. However, the Job market has become very challenging amid the change of the global economy. Many of the youths cannot have or manage their expected job. Their income is very limited because of remaining stuck in a particular job.
The youth, however, has certain responsibilities to his family as well as to society. With their limited income, they cannot contribute well to the family, let alone to the society. The majority of the generation cannot even get their thinking out of the orbit of serving particular government and non-government jobs as they prefer not to take risks and challenges.
AKM Habibullah, a resident of the village said developing small entrepreneurship skills, the unemployed youth, Monsur became successful in the business and became a role model for many of the youths in the upazila.
Dr Mohamad Jubaidul Kabir, additional district livestock officer of Rangpur said Monsur Ali is a successful entrepreneur in the district by developing the dairy farm.
Cap_ Monsur earns Tk 2-3 lakh monthly from the farm –Zakir Hossain
