Established in 1984, IDE's Bangladesh program is the oldest of IDE's existing country programs. Early on, IDE came across a locally invented treadle pump with great promise. IDE helped to refine the pump design, initiate a private-sector supply chain, and actively market the pump to smallholders. The result was a phenomenal growth in the treadle pump market with dozens of manufactures, over a thousand dealers, and over 1.5 million treadle pump users to date.
Now that treadle pump marketing has been taken over by the private sector, IDE Bangladesh currently maintains two projects: the Agricultural Input Supply Delivery (AISD) Project, and Integrating Smallholders Into Expanding Markets (ISEM). AISD focuses on improving the availability of quality seed, pesticides, and fertilizers to small farmers; while ISEM works with small farmers and grower groups to improve market access and quality of production.
Polak Wins Monito del Giardino Prize
(June 1, 2008) IDE Founder Paul Polak recently traveled to Florence, Italy, to accept the prestigious Il Monito del Giardino prize. The award, which included a €30,000 grant, is presented annually...
Friends of IDE Holds First Meeting
(June 18, 2008) A new group for Denver-area residents who want to get more involved with IDE will hold its first meeting Friday, June 27, from 6-8 p.m...
Polak's Out of Poverty Now Available
(February 15, 2008) In this hard-hitting new book,IDE Founder Paul Polak tells why traditional poverty eradication programs have fallen so short, and how he and his organization developed an alternative approach that has succeeded in lifting 17 million people out of poverty...
IDE Receives Second Grant From Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
(January 25, 2008) IDE today announced a grant of $27 million over four years from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in support of its micro-irrigation programs for Indian smallholder farmers...
