Healthy livestock sector imperative amid global crisis

Staff Reporter :
Productivity and quality products in the livestock sector are the major challenges amid the global crisis, Minister of Fisheries and Livestock SM Rezaul Karim said on Wednesday.
“We are now self-sufficient in eggs, milk and meat. We are also exporting meat. But amid the global crisis, we have to continue the productivity and quality productions in this sector for its sustainability,” he said.
The minister said this while addressing the workshop on “Producer Group (PG) Formation and Livestock Farmers Field School Mobilization,” organised by Livestock and Dairy Development Project (LDDP) under Department of Livestock (DLS) at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh in the capital. DLS Director General Dr Monjur Mohammad Shahjada presided over the event.
Among others, Secretary of Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Dr Nahid Rashid, World Bank Senior Agriculture Economist and LDDP project Task Team Leader Amada Ba, were present. LDDP Project Director Abdur Rahmid delivered the presidential speech while LDDP Chief Technical Coordinator Dr Md Golam Rabbani highlighted the project presentation.
About 1200 officials of Livestock officers, livestock extension officers, monitoring officers and other stakeholders from all divisions, district and upazilas were present on the occasion.
LDDP is implementing the project in 466 Upazilas under 61 districts and empowering the dairy farmers by the formation of 5,500 PGs. One PG comprises a maximum of 40 farmers who are getting direct training, free vaccinations, bank accounts and other facilities to be sustainable and to increase their productions.
About the PG, the minister said, “The PGs are helping the marginalized farmers.
 It is helping women, widow, poor, unemployed and entrepreneurs. A revolutionary change is taking place in rural lives under the project.”
He has called upon the field level officials under the ministry and its related departments to extend their best services for the people.
“The key to the success of the ministry and its related departments is the hard work of the field level officials. There are reports of negligence committed by some officials. But most of them are committed to their task. Do something best so that people can remember your contribution,” he added.
He also urged them not to squander any money on the project as the government has taken loans from the World Bank and it has to be returned with interest.
Dr Nahid Rashid said, “If the field level officials and beneficiaries do not own the project, it will not generate desired results. Concerted efforts are important for its sustainability.”
“There are various problems in this sector. But we should not hide it. We have to work hard to remove all barriers,” Dr Monjur Mohammad Shahjada said.