Inception for the ISFL Project at Ramu

An inception workshop for the Improving Small-scale Farmers' Livelihoods (ISFL) Project, implemented by Mukti Cox’s Bazar and funded by IVY Japan, was held on 2nd July 2025, at “Himchori” Conference Room of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s office in Ramu. The workshop was presided over by the Chief Executive of Mukti Cox’s Bazar Mr. Bimal Chandra Dey Sarker with Chief Guest Mr. Md. Rashedul Islam, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Ramu Upazila.

The Special Guest Ms. Rie Kundu, Project Manager of IVY Japan, delivered the welcome speech. Other notable guests included Ms. Tanzila Rahman, Upazila Agriculture Officer; Dr. Ashim Baran Sen, Upazila Livestock Officer; Mr. Md. Mahiuddin Sharif, Upazila Rural Development Officer; Mr. Debesh Das, Upazila Project Implementation Officer; Mr. Abul Kashem, President of Ramu Press Club; and Mr. Rijon Barua, correspondent of Kaalbela newspaper.

The President of the workshop, Mr. Bimal Chandra Dey Sarker stated, “Mukti Cox’s Bazar always empowers and capacitates project participants by utilizing local human resources and other local resources to make them self-sufficient so that they can take care of themselves in the long run. This project is no exception.”

The Chief Guest Mr. Md. Rashedul Islam, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Ramu Upazila expressed, “Mukti has been working relentlessly, especially for the betterment of mass people in Cox’s Bazar region. We all appreciate their earnest philanthropic development & humanitarian efforts.”

Project Coordinator of ISFL, Mr. Md. Osman Gani, giving an overview of the project, described that under this ongoing project, 160 families from Wards 01 and 02 of Kauarkhop Union of Ramu upazila will receive capacity-building training on modern vegetable seedling production techniques. He mentions, furthermore, training on poultry rearing, vermicompost production, pest-free vegetable cultivation will be provided too. To fight water-scarcity in the dry season, two solar-powered deep tube-wells will be installed, and users will be trained on the management and maintenance of the systems.

Moreover, to ensure fair market access for agricultural produce, the project will provide 160 families with capacity-building training on market linkage. Initiatives will also be taken to establish coordination and communication with different market actors.

Apart from that, other notable attendees included two UP members of Kauarkhop Union Parishad namely Mr. Md. Mir Kashem and Ms. Nurnahar; representatives from NGOs such as Shushilan, World Vision, Prottashi, and Ornob Cox’s Bazar; Mr. Suruj Khan, Finance and Admin Officer of the ISFL Project; and community mobilizers from Mukti Cox’s Bazar.