Research Reports (1998): Economic Studies, Vol - XIII

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10361/12975

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Project-end evaluation of Oxbow Lakes Small Scale Fishermen Project - II
(BRAC, 1998-05) Ahmed, Dilruba
Poverty alleviation of the hard core poor in Bangladesh: a study on BRAC's income generation for vulnerable group development programme
(BRAC, 1998-11) Ahmed, Dilruba
BRAC launched IGVGO Programme to improve the condition of the poorest women covered by Vulnerable Groups Development (VGO) Programme. In this context high yielding variety (HYV) poultry birds rearing was introduced as an income generating activity for increasing the economic and nutritional well-being of the IGVGO participants. To sustain the process of development of the participants, BRAC merged IGVGO with Rural Development Programme (ROP). It is found that RDP could not include many of the very poor and disadvantaged women. The objectives of the study were to : 1. investigate the changes brought about by the Programme in its participant households; 2. assess the extent to which the Programme represented the 'poorest of the poor' ; and 3. know the reasons for drop out of the participants from the IGVGO.
Involvement of women in income generating activities: changes over time
(BRAC, 1998-11) Banu, Dilruba
This paper explores the changes in the involvement of women in income generating activities with their participation in BRAC programmes over time. It is based on a timeseries data collected from the same households with three years of interval. Participation in BRAC progranunes created an opportunity for women to he involved in cash earning although it did not increase with length of membership. Women's involvement in cash earning was more common in female headed and low income households. Intensity, inputs, time spent, size and market facilities regulated the income from IGA as wen. With improvement in the economic condition of member households the involvement in income generating activities has been decreased. Mainly women who were involved in selfemployed activities continued their work.
Identification of the poorest and the impact of credit on them: the case of BRAC
(BRAC, 1998-12) Halder, Shantana R.; Husain, A.M.M.
This study offers a new approach for identification of the poorest and constructs a poverty profile by integrating four non-impact variables sensitive to poverty. Poverty was found to be highly correlated with all of the variables included in the index namely sex, occupation and education Ievel of the household head, village Ievel economic development and household landholding. Results on the impact of micro-credit programme on the poorest show that the poorest with little asset base received similar amount of credit as other members but invested it in relatively more non-productive activities. The poorest BRAC members consumed more calorie and owned more non-land assets than the poorest of the comparison group. For BRAC members length of membership influencer negatively in their calorie consumption level and asset accumulation.
Factors contributing to change in the occupation of BRAC household heads
(BRAC, 1998-09) Mallick, Debdulal
This paper aims to explore the underlying reasons of BRAC household heads getting involved in farm and non-farm sectors, the nature and extent of change in their occupation between 1993 and 1996 and contribution of BRAC inputs in this change. Secondary analysis of IAS-I and lAS-II data collected in 1993 and 1996 respectively has been done for this paper. There had been only a marginal shift of occupation to the farm sector (3%) between 1993 and 1996. But actually there was a large inter group redistribution in occupational status as 33% of those engaged in farm activities in 1993 shifted to other sectors and 27% of those from non-farm sector switched to other sectors. Heads of the households with large family size and smaller amount of landholding switched to non-farm activities and so did those from villages with good infrastructure and marketing facilities. Household heads from villages with poor infrastructure and marketing facilities and with larger amount of landholding and receiving loan over Taka 5,000 were mainly engaged in farm activities. Such household heads who were previously engaged in the non-farm sector also switched to the farm sector.
Empowerment of women: the impact of BRAC's rural development programme
(BRAC, 1998-08) Banu, Dilruba; Farashuddin, Fehmin; Hossain, Altaf; Akter, Shahnuj
The paper conceptualizes empowerment as a continuous process o/change that is greatly influenced by the length of time a woman has been involved in BRAC. Women's participation in economic activities, and ownership and control over assets have been increased due to their investment in BRAC, though they cannot take independent decisions in many cases. They have begun to acquire positive self-perceptions of their own personal interests. Their economic dependence on husbands and other male kin for personal and household expenses decreases over time. BRAC involvement has had positive impacts on women's mobility to some extent. Finally, there is an improvement in their relationships with their husbands.
Emlploynent creation and viability of rural enterprise projects: cases of laundry and tailoring in Khulna and Gopalganj
(BRAC, 1998-11) Matin, Rukhsana
This study aimed to assess the viability of t\vo rural enterprises, laundry and tailoring shop from both the organization and members' perspectives, using ratio analysis. The study also attempted to measure the extent of new employment generated. Results reveal that though both the projects hold potential for increasing employment and output, tailoring was more readily acceptable since it required lower working capital consistent with factor endowments and yielded higher rate of return. Besides, sufficient demand is a pre-requisite for realization of employment and output that are technically feasible. Age of member was found to be a significant factor in influencing the number of hours worked. The study suggests that sufficient emphasis must be given on training of the members as it affects the profitability of the enterprise.
Cost-benefit analysis of BRAC's sericulture programme
(BRAC, 1998-12) Halder, Shantana R.
The Sericulture Programme of BRAC is one of the most ambitious among BRAC sector programmes. Since 1992 BRAe has gone through a large scale expansion of the plantation programme. Major components of the programme are: a) nursery, b) mulberry plantation, c) rearing of the silkworms, d) reeling, and e) weaving. The main objective of the study was to measure the efficiency of the programme by doing a cost benefit analysis from the participants' as well as the organizers' point of view. The specific objectives of the study were: 1) to determine employment created by BRAC to measure the opportunity cost of time and BRAC's achievements in this area; 2) to determine the programme costs and returns for calculating the profitability of the different components of the programme; 3) to calculate accounting and economic profit to determine the viability of programme participants; and 4) to identify the socia-economic constraints on programme sustainability. The study considered four different stages of measuring programme viability. In the first stage the employment generation in each component of the programme was detennined to calculate the minimum opportunity cost of time and BRAC's achievements. In the second stage both programme input and output records were used to calculate the total cost of the programme and the revenue it earned. Major components of fixed and variable costs may differ in different programme activities which were also considered. In the third stage participants viability was investigated. Indicators used to measure participants viability were: 1) profit per unit of input; 2) average rate of return on investment =profit/total investment on fixed assets; 3) average rate of return on operating cost =profit/operating cost; 4) yield or value of output per unit of major input; and 5) amount or cost of input per unit of output. The programme is treated as economically viable when the actual rate of return exceeds the market rate of interest. The fourth stage described the programme viability. Monthly receipts and expenditure statements of sericulture programme were used to evaluate it. The study tried to focus on how to increase the physical output to its maximum level and to reduce costs to its minimum. Primary data were collected from a random sample of 492 programme participants from 10 AOs including 26 sapling growers and 300 silk worm rearers. Due to the fact that reeling, pedal spinning and weaving were not done in every selected AOs, fifty seven workers from three reeling centres, 64 pedal spinners from five AOs and 45 weavers from three BRAe weaving programme areas were selected.
Changes in the pattern of BRAC loan use and its impact on poverty
(BRAC, 1998-11) Mallick, Debdulal; Husain, A M Muazzam
Analysis of member performance: a case of BRAC's rural development programme
(BRAC, 1998-12) Halder, Shantana R.; Husain, A M Muazzam
A comparative analysis of high performing and other BRAC members has been made to determine factors responsible for differences in their performance. It was found that both the success cases and other members owned similar amount of land at the time of joining BRAC programmes. Among the success group the performances of self employed, literate, and female headed households were significantly higher compared to other members. Members with traits of leadership, higher initial endowment, higher involvement in relatively high return activities, higher entrepreneurial skill and higher social position achieved greater success. The success members also had close kinship ties with other members in the organization. Multiple loan use was also found as one of the influencing/actors behind their success.
An impact assessment study of BRAC's Rural Development Programme: lessons from methodological issues
(BRAC, 1998-09) Hussain, A M Muazzam; Mallick, Debdulal; Chowdhury, A M R
An assessment of REP's apiculture program and methods for future research
(BRAC, 1998) Pierce, J. Michael
The Rural Enterprise Project's apiculture program is at an important juncture in its progression toward becoming a full scale RDP program. REP's goal is to develop businesses that can eventually be implemented across all of the RDP branches. After a full investigation, the possibility of full implementation is not likely. After my initial research it became clear that the current program had needs that had to be met in order for expansion to be possible. The need was a different bee species that produced more honey, did not abscond from the hive, and required less land for VO members. If these cannot be met, then, expansion of the current program cannot be achieved to facilitate full RDP implementation. The most promising alternative we found was the implementation of an artificial queen bee production center (AQPC). If implemented the AQPC would greatly increase the returns to VO members from a current average income of Tk 2500 per year to Tk 24,000. Unfortunately however, while the financial benefit to VO members would be very positive, the investment required by BRAC coupled with a negative return mean that AQPC is not a good investment. There are also human resource and logistical demands that BRAC cannot currency over come in order for AQPC to be achieved. AQPC requires a skilled and formally trained apiculturist in order for successful implementation to be achieved. Another problem is the time necessary for AQPC to be started. The investment of TK 7,475,000 with income from honey production of at TK 2,640,000 yields a return on investment of a very disappointing .35. This is simply too low. The breakeven timeframe (exaggerated by the three-year startup period) is a lengthy seven years. This is simply too high. Other BRAC program investments such as sericulture and the BRAC dairy all have had significandy higher returns on investment and shorter payback periods. From a human resource standpoint BRAC does not currendy have access to an individual who can carry out the implementation of an AQPC. To do so requires a person who is skilled and trained in the raising and breeding of apis melifera bees. There is currently no such person available in Bangladesh. The logistical and time demands are currendy unacceptable. BRAC would have to wait a minimum of three years before an AQPC could be implemented. This is due to the time necessary to procure the necessary quantity and quality of melifera bees. What is important for BRAC beyond realizing that investing in artificial queen production, is how these conclusions were reached. Through the use of a business inquiry, as opposed to that of traditional social science, and fundamental financial analysis tools this conclusion was able to be reached quickly and effectively and with minimal research cost. If BRAC can replicate this type of research in its RED division BRAC and RDP will benefit from timely and cost effective information dissemination. In sum, based on the above findings, I recommend that RDP management consider the possibility of continuing the existence of the apiculture program as a supplementary income generating activity, despite the impossibility of expansion and full implementation across all RDP branches.
A study on RDP loans and the investment costs of some IGAs
(BRAC, 1998-02) Matin, Rukhsana; Rab, Habib N.
This paper is a cost study of the six most commonly performed micro-enterprises in four village organizations. It is an investigation to see whether loans for these micro enterprises restrict borrower's ability to meet the purchase cost of working capital and thus sustain themselves. Fixed and variable costs were estimated to calculate total investment cost. Project viability was assessed by calculating the return on investment in terms of the return on investment. Out of a total sample of 114 respondents, the key findings show that for IGAs with no gestation gaps, namely trading and paddy husking, loans were on the whole sufficient to cover investment cost. However, investment costs in these cases are also a function of factors such as the scale of operation and prior involvement with the activity. For IGAs with gestation gaps, namely vegetable cultivation, milch cow and chick rearing, it is recommended that loan sizes may be increased due to large initial investment outlays.

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