Irregularities in goat development projects, laborious work
Asaduzzaman Noor, Dhaka
Published: 02 October 2024, 11:24
https://www.ajkerpatrika.com/360020
Department of Livestock
In 2018, the government took up the 'Black Bengal breed goat development and expansion project' with the aim of increasing interest in goat rearing among marginalized people and eliminating poverty. In this project costing 47 crore rupees, the project director has completed almost all the tasks starting from farmer selection and training. Allegations of irregularities have also been raised in some cases.

The Directorate of Livestock was responsible for the implementation of the project. It was implemented in 197 upazilas of 23 districts of the country including Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barisal, Khulna. Initially, the cost of the project was estimated at 41 crore 43 lakh taka. Later it increased to 47 crore 63 lakh taka. The project was scheduled to be completed in December 2021 but was completed in June 2022.

According to the project implementation report, under the project, one and a half thousand goat farmers have been trained in residential management for three days till December 2021. 1 thousand 570 farmers have been provided with a model goat shed or house with a scientific loft, milk replacer (fortified milk powder), deworming and essential medicines to ensure the nutrition of the kids free of cost. Apart from this, for the development of the breed, a scientifically lofted goat model shed or house has been given to one person in each upazila by identifying Black Bengal goats of correct quality from the reared goats of the marginal farmers. Breeding records of these goats have been preserved.

But on field investigation, it is known that almost all of these works mentioned in the report have been completed with difficulty. Actual farmers were not trained under the project. Majority of the persons participating in the training are non-farmers.

An official of the project, on condition of anonymity, said that farmers are supposed to be taught hands-on the various aspects of goat rearing. But most of the trainees were not farmers. A bag, certificate and 1000 rupees each are given in the training. The actual farmers did not get any benefit from this scheme. The pockets of some top officials of the project are hot.

50 Contract Growing Farmers (CGF) of the project were trained for three days at Comilla Youth Development Training Center on 7 September 2019. Talking to some people on this list, it is known that they were not in training. Some of the grantees do not have farms. Many people do not keep goats. Farmers with a minimum of 5 goats were nominated for training only one person with 1 goat. Again the farmer who reared more than 25 goats did not know about the training.

According to the list of project implementation report, Morsheda Begum of Dakshin Shasidal village of Brahmanpara upazila of Comilla participated in the training. But Morsheda's husband. Rehanul Islam said that his wife did not participate in any training.

Even though Rehanul had 25 goats, he did not get the call for training. On behalf of Ulto project, some people from Upazila Livestock Directorate came and gave vaccine to 25 goats. The next day 12 goats died. Rehanul quickly sold the remaining goats in fear. Currently he has no farm.

Abul Bashar of Purba Ramchandrapur village of Chandina Upazila of the district said that he has 2 goats. But he also participated in that training. Received 1 thousand rupees and a bag. However, farmers keeping minimum 5 goats are supposed to get this training.

197 Goat Development Workers (GDWs) have been appointed in 197 upazilas under the recruitment recommendation . Although the terms of appointment state that preference should be given to qualified and experienced candidates, 80 percent of the staff have been appointed on the basis of recommendation. According to the memorandum issued by the Department of Livestock on March 20, 2019, 11 out of 17 have no experience.

In a memorandum dated January 2020, 10 persons were appointed as per GDW selection criteria. However, out of 10 people who were appointed, 8 were appointed on the basis of recommendation. Only two were hired without experience and recommendations.

A GDW who was appointed on the basis of experience said, 'The project was not appointed except for nepotism and own people. By hiring inexperienced people, the real objective of the project can never be fulfilled. Vaccination by inexperienced people is dangerous. Goats have also died in some places.'

Irregularities in construction work
Allegations of loss of project funds by using substandard materials in connivance with the construction contractor under the project. Some videos and pictures of the renovation and development of Rajabarihat Goat Development Farm in Rajshahi have come to the hands of today's newspaper. It can be seen that old rods are being used for welding. A mason named Suman built a cage of rods. The bricks used are of inferior quality. Bricks of poor quality are also used, which are unsuitable for casting.

Rajmistri Suman said, 'I did as the project director asked to work. We have nothing to do. We work with good quality stuff. Even if it is bad, there is nothing to do. Don't involve me in this.'

The then Rajabarihat Goat Farm Director Sirajul Islam was in charge of supervising the work of the farm. He retired last year.

When asked, Sirajul Islam said, 'The way the project director has done the work, it has been done that way. Bamboo was not given instead of rod. And the old and unworkable bricks were removed and new bricks were brought. As work is ordered, work is done.'

Those concerned have blamed project director Shariful Haque for all the irregularities in the Black Bengal breed goat development and expansion project. Currently, he is the deputy director of the farm division of the Department of Livestock.

Shariful Haque was called several times to inquire about the project but he did not pick up. No response was received even after sending a message on WhatsApp.