Mahmudul Hasan set a shining example of success establishing a dairy farm in Rangpur. Photo: BSS

By Md Mamun Islam

RANGPUR, May 13, 2025 (BSS) - Educated youth Mahmudul Hasan, 35, from Faridabad Daktarpara village in Taraganj upazila of Rangpur, has set a shining example of success by changing his fate through establishing a dairy farm, instead of chasing a job. 

His success has created a stir in the area and inspired other unemployed youths to take up the challenge of achieving self-reliance through dairy farming.

Mahmudul established 'Mahmudul Dairy Farm' in his backyard as a cow milk production enterprise 11 years ago. He started fattening cattle for meat production. 

Till now, he has sold 75 bullocks and cows. At present, he has 20 cows on his farm, including 10 milk-giving ones. He produces 70 to 80 liters of milk per day now. 
 
Mahmudul takes the milk to the Aarong Dairy Chilling Center of BRAC and Dairy Milk Purchasing Center, located five kilometers from his village in Taraganj upazila town, for sale.
 
He is now expecting to sell his four large bulls, each weighing between 400 kg and 700 kg, for Taka between 16-18 lakh ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha. 
 
In addition to being self-sufficient, Mahmudul employs four people, two of whom work permanently, each earning a monthly salary of Taka 10,000. 

Talking to BSS, Mahmudul said that after passing his HSC exam in 2008, he tried hard to find a job, but failed. 
 
"Then, I planned to set up a dairy farm and consulted my father about starting the venture," he said.
 
Pleased with the plan, his father Mozaharul Islam, 60, gave Mahmudul Taka 1.5 lakh as seed capital. 
 
Mahmudul bought two foreign dairy cows in February 2014. After a few months, both cows gave birth to one calf each and started giving 10 to 12 liters of milk daily. 

 "I was getting 22 to 24 liters of milk a day from the two cows, making a good profit. My father bought another milk-giving cow to expand my business," Mahmudul said. 

In 2015, Mahmudul approached the Taraganj Upazila Youth Development Department for advice. The following year, during a three-month training on 'Dairy Farming and Cow Fattening,' he received support from the then Upazila Youth Development Officer to secure a Taka 1 lakh loan.
 
Mahmudul bought another milk-giving cow, bringing the number of cows to eight. Thus, his dairy farm continues to expand to this day.
 
He has also established a biogas plant where cow dung is used to produce biogas and electricity, which helps him meet the electricity needs of his family and dairy farm, thereby saving a lot on electricity costs.
 
Mahmudul cultivates nutritious grasses of Napier and Pakchung varieties on 60 decimals of their land for his cows.
 
"I have built a huge 2,046 square foot tin-shed dairy farm to transform my business into a larger establishment with modern facilities and a capacity to house up to 50 cows at a time," he said. 
 
During the Covid-19 pandemic, his cow count increased to 32 and he started getting 100 litres of milk per day. However, he faced huge losses as he was unable to sell the milk at that time. 
 
"However, my dairy farm is now running in full profit because I got back the Taka 15 lakh I invested earlier," said Mahmudul, adding he is living happily with his wife, parents and only daughter. 
 
He urged the concerned authorities to ensure fair prices for milk to further expand the dairy sector. 
 
"Dairy farmers are selling milk at the same rate of Taka 50-55 per litre as they did six years ago. However, the price of animal feed has increased threefold during this period," he said.
 
Taraganj Upazila Livestock Officer Dr KM Iftekharul Islam told BSS that local youths are following in the footsteps of exemplary entrepreneur Mahmudul in setting up dairy farms instead of chasing jobs.