|
 Shubodh
Datta came from humble beginnings but managed to finish
secondary school and a course in agricultural machinery.
Eventually he opened a workshop but had difficulty finding
a market for his products. In 1984 he heard about IDE and
its treadle pump and decided to begin manufacturing these
manual irrigation devices. Gradually his business grew as
more and more small farmers learned of the benefits of
this device. Today Shubodh Datta is the head of successful
company and his story serves as an example of the benefits
that IDE's technologies and methods can bring to both
smallholders and the businesses that serve them.
Shubodh Datta came from humble beginnings. Although his
father was chairman of the Upazilla Coordination Committee
(a local government council), the family's income was just
Tk 24,000 ($420 US) a year and had to be shared among two
parents, two sisters, and four brothers. Subodh was
fortunate, though, because he managed to finish secondary
school and complete a three-year diploma course in
agricultural machinery. Eventually he opened a workshop
but found little market for the products he produced.
Then, in 1984, he heard about IDE and its treadle pump. At
first he was skeptical about consumer demand for this
manually operated irrigation device, but eventually IDE
convinced him to start production. Soon Shubodh was
assisting IDE in its efforts to educate farmers about the
benefits of treadle pumps through meetings, drama
performances, and leaflets. Gradually the market for
treadle pumps grew as small farmers realized that this
simple and affordable device could free them from the hard
labor of traditional irrigation practices and from the
insecurity inherent in purchasing water from wealthier
neighbors with mechanized pumps. Eventually Shubodh became
part of a sustainable private sector supply chain for
producing and servicing these devices.
In 1991, fuel prices rose dramatically as a result of
the first Gulf War and farmers turned to the treadle pump
to avoid the high costs of the diesel needed for
mechanized pumps. Shubodh's profits soared to Tk 100,000
per year and he was finally able to fulfill his dream of
purchasing a house in his native village. Now Mr. Datta is
a prominent businessman who employs 20 people in the
production of a variety of farm implements and the
distribution of consumer goods. Clearly, when combined
with the hard work of local residents, IDE and its
technologies can be an important catalyst in the
construction of improved rural markets with widespread
benefits. |
