In the quiet village of Ullapara, Sirajganj, female farmers had long struggled to find a steady market for the milk produced by their small herds. Often, they were forced to sell at low prices or, worse, discard unsold milk.
This changed with the introduction of the ‘Milk for School Program,’ a collaboration between Grameen Danone Foods Limited, Heifer International Korea, and Heifer International Bangladesh. The initiative aimed to provide nutritious dairy products to school children while offering local women a fair, stable market for their milk.
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As part of the program, a Milk Chilling Center was established in Ullapara, allowing farmers to sell their milk at a consistent price. For farmers like Amina, this was a lifeline, offering a dependable income. “Now, I can support my family,” Amina shared.
The milk is used to produce Shokti+ fortified yogurt, which is distributed to 1,000 schoolchildren in Ullapara, addressing malnutrition in the village. School attendance rose from 76% to 94%, with enrollment increasing by 51% as the program progressed.
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In addition to boosting nutrition, the program offered training through Grameen Danone’s Farmer Development Program, helping female farmers improve their practices and increase milk production. “We’re part of something bigger now,” said Shahana, a beneficiary of the training.
The ‘Milk for School Program’ is more than just a nutrition initiative—it’s a movement empowering women and transforming communities. Grameen Danone’s commitment is creating lasting change, one glass of milk and one cup of yogurt at a time.
