City Desk:
Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhtar on Wednesday emphasised the need for conserving and developing indigenous cattle breeds to boost livestock productivity in Bangladesh.
Speaking at a national stakeholders’ validation workshop titled ‘Scaling-up Livestock Climate Actions to Enhance Nationally Determined Contributions – Phase II’ held at city hotel, she said the country’s indigenous cattle breeds have survived for centuries, adapting to local conditions and overcoming various adversities.
“The unique genetic traits within these local breeds are a valuable resource for sustainable livestock development in the future,” Farida added.
Highlighting the risks of focusing solely on crossbred cattle, the adviser urged prioritising the preservation of indigenous breeds.
She noted that long-term heat waves, climate uncertainty, and production disruption are now among the biggest challenges facing Bangladesh’s fisheries and livestock sector, reports UNB. The adviser stressed that Bangladeshi researchers, scientists, officials from the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Department of Livestock Services, Department of Fisheries, and field-level personnel must regularly participate in global discussions, including at COP conferences.
Farida Akhtar also pointed out that the high greenhouse gas emissions from developed countries’ food consumption and lifestyles often unfairly cast blame on climate-vulnerable countries like Bangladesh.
She said sector-specific data collection, measurement, reporting and verification systems remain underdeveloped in the country.
Director General of the Department of Livestock Services, Dr Md Abu Sufian, chaired the workshop, which featured addresses by FAO representative Jiaoqun Shi, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute DG Dr Shakila Faruk, and FAO livestock and climate change expert Jean De Dieu Ayabagabo.
