SoC from Bangladesh: Mizan, a paravet who is 'touching his dreams'

Story of Changes

Title: Mizan! On to touch Dreams!!!


Time of collection: 31 March’2007

Name of the collector:
A.S.M Shahin,

Name & address of story teller:
Md. Mizanur Rahaman
Veterinary Service provider (Paravet)
Catra, Birampur, Dinajpur

Domains of Changes:
Changes in the quality of Mizan’s life
Changes in the nature and quality of his services
Peoples reaction to his approach
Changes in his demand and expectation

Developing process:

At first shared on SoC with the team and selected issue / person .Necessary information has been collected using a format. The rough case was prepared by the case collector. Then sharing and discussion was held within the team members to reform the case. After that the case was shared a second time within the team and a prepared final case.

Mizan – a household name among the milk producer in Catra Village!

Armed with skill development training, the demand for Mizan’s service as a skilled veterinary service provider has increased, reflecting a boom to his income from it. Mizan is the same Mizanur Rahaman of Catra village at Birampur Upazilla, who used to provide the service for Artificial Insemination and Veterinary medicine that had been described two months ago in his early baseline story. Back then, he was capable of providing artificial insemination services but not veterinary services as he had hardly any knowledge on modern veterinary medicine, production management or business plan. He used to serve in the traditional way, i.e. if some one called him in he would tap in on his experience and provide medication as an AI worker. Sometimes the results were satisfactory and at other times, fruitless. In case of the latter, his clients would not call back. Thus, despite his arduous efforts, he hardly earned more than Tk. 4500/= a month. He began to realize that he needed the sufficient skills to establish acceptance amongst his clients in order to increase his income. Thus, he always longed for training that would help him overcome his shortcomings and help him metamorphose into a skilled veterinary service provider so that he could receive calls from more clients around the area. That would ensure a higher income and hence a better family life.

Mizan administering vaccine to one of our cows. Consequently, he also participated in the skill development training for veterinary service providers facilitated by the Department of Livestock and coordinated and influenced by Practical Action Bangladesh held on January’07. This training helped him overcame most of his weaknesses as it exposed him to teachings from the expert veterinary surgeons. As a result, Mizan was more confident and competent in his profession.

After he received his training, Mizan chalked out a business development plan with the help of Practical Action Bangladesh. According to this plan he started to create awareness building and conduct learning sessions on livestock husbandry and disease prevention for groups of producers alongside establishing a rapport with them. As a result calls from the targeted groups doubled (3-4 calls /day) from his previous score of 1-2 calls a day. He also provides veterinary services for minor problems/ diseases while he conducts his learning sessions. His services are more reasonable than that of those paravets who have limited training and lack a business plan.

To quote, “Today I am more confident and reliable than I was before receiving the training.” He says, “With the blessings of the Almighty, all the cases that I treated or prescribed for so far, have been successful.” He further added “My good will as a veterinary service provider is propagation from one producer to another. Calls are coming from further and further a field via the mobile phone. These days, I stress on promotion of my market rather than charge higher fees. In the future, if the Almighty wishes, I need not look for any alternative means of livelihood.”

When asked about the number of calls he received daily he replied “I used to get 5-7 calls daily before receiving the training whereas now I am getting 10-12 calls daily. Moreover, I have people coming to me for Artificial Insemination of their cows in heat, which should be attributed to the awareness building sessions conducted by us (Paravets) under the influence of Practical Action Bangladesh. Furthermore people from nearby villages are coming to me to form such producers groups there too so that they receive Veterinary services through a group approach.
He also supposed, “Some times when the liquid semen supply is not available I resort to natural method with indigenous bulls to meet the demand. I am getting on average 2-3 calls per day for AI.” When asked to comment on his income, he said “I made a profit of 6500-7000/= from Veterinary and AI service excluding all expenses this month, which is 2500-3000/= more than that of the previous month. In coming days I expect to earn 10000-12000/= per month if the growth continues.”

When asked about whether he had increased his investment in the last month compared to that of the previous one, he replied “I didn’t invest anything more than the previous month. However if I get the Government approval for the reestablishment of AI sub center in Catra I will invest in necessary items such as refrigerators and others.

With regards to his future plans he replied, “I want to establish a permanent AI center with the help of livestock in Catra Union Parishad. So I have already applied for it through the UP chairman to the livestock Department. But it is difficult for me to reach the higher officials at the Livestock department for persuasion of approval. Perhaps their support may be solicited by Practical Action Bangladesh.” He claimed “if the sub centre gets approved it will be possible to provide Artificial insemination service at a reasonable price(30-50 tk/ service) to the poor producers of this area. Besides, I am cooperating with the staff of the Development Council (PNGO) for the formation of more milk producer groups in the area. After formation of new producers groups I will expand my business through rapport building and motivation in the form of learning sessions and ultimately I will contribute to the development of Dairy Farmers by ensuring increased milk production through providing better service”.