The landless men and women, marginal and small farmers constitute the target population of these projects.
In addition to facilitating agricultural co-operative programs, BRDB mobilizes the rural poor, marginal farmers, and women into cooperatives and informal groups, which allow them to engage in income generating activities, and improve standards of living.
[5] Since independence Bangladesh witnessed various experimentation with rural development approaches.
In 1972, the government activated the Integrated Rural Development Program (IRDP) to replicate and expand the Comilla Model in other parts of the country.
Later, in 1982, the program was transformed into an institution called Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB).