The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has allocated $5.2 million grant to CARE Bangladesh for strengthening the dairy value chain in Bangladesh to increase the productivity of small-scale dairy farmers and link them to the formal dairy market.

Bill Gates, co-chair of the foundation, at a press conference at the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland on January 25 announced the funds for the over four-year "Strengthening Daily Value Chain (SDVC) Project."

President and CEO of CARE International Dr Helene D Gayle, President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Amos Namanga Ngongi and President of World Bank Robert B Zoellick, among others, were present.

CARE will provide the grant to the landless and small-holder farmers with the opportunity to enhance their participation in and profit from the dairy value chain in Bangladesh, where cattle are an inseparable part of the farming system.

“This generous grant will allow us, initially, to improve the lives of 35,000 families who earn their living from dairy farming. But, ultimately, this project has the capacity to benefit 2 million households,” said CARE President Dr Helene Gayle.

The project includes establishing 21 chilling plants and house-to-house milk collection systems around which farmers will organise; improving the transportation system linking chilling plants with processing facilities; and training and hiring para-veterinarians.