Contributed by Mr Sabbir Bin Zaman, SCAO Dhaka Chemicals & Agri-Science Dept

10 November 2022
Dhaka, Bangladesh

0-1 Challenge is an initiative of Sumitomo Corporation HQ that allows competing teams to pitch new business ideas to a panel. Taking the opportunity, a team from Dhaka office participated in “0-1 Challenge 2021” with an idea to produce and market ‘Silage’. Silage is fermented maize used as cattle feed. Bangladesh is in short supply of dairy production, and Silage is a better solution to fulfill the gap.

After much hard work and preparation, we are pleased to say that our team has passed the Demo Day, and secured JPY 10 million for testing on the feasibility of our idea, identify and convince suitable BU to take over the business. Through this journey, we developed and deployed necessary skills to capitalise Japanese technologies and knowhow for commercialisation.

We have partnered with a local company for feasibility of Silage production and marketing. In the first season (April – July), we could produce 33 metric tonnes of Silage despite adverse climatic conditions. All our produce were sold out in just one month. The main harvesting season is September – December, and we have secured the required land to achieve our production target.

We have procured machineries required for this season’s production. Land preparation and seed sowing process for this dry season (September – December) have already started. Awareness raising seminars for dairy farmers will be continued as part of our marketing activities. In addition, a consultant is working on product diversification and improvement with us. We plan to conduct a trial for ensuring our product quality and also prove that feeding silage has economic benefits, such as increasing milk production, regeneration capability, rumen health condition, and reducing methane gas emission.