Bangladesh plans to export ‘organic meat’ within three years: Minister
Bangladesh is going to export “organic meat” produced by feeding cattle with completely natural and nutritious grass without any genetic modification within the next three years, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid said yesterday.
Addressing a seminar in Dhaka on Wednesday, the minister emphasised safe and nutritious food, which he said is becoming very important globally as genetically modified food is not bringing good results.
The seminar titled Australia-Bangladesh Research Showcase was jointly organised by the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute and Australia’s Charles Sturt University (CSU), a media statement said.
Financed by the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Australian government, the programme was jointly organized by Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) and Australian leading Charles Sturt University (CSU).
The main theme of the seminar was “Climate-resilient food systems-practical solutions and partnerships”.
The minister said, safe and nutritional food now becomes very much important in the present world. Invention of genetically modified or GMO food could not achieve full benefit for the people.
So, people are ultimately waiting for safe and organic food for getting overall health benefit.
Regarding the research-based invention of Napier grass, a feed commonly used across the tropics and subtropics for dairy and meat production, the minister said the new grass variety which containing 18 percent protein, has been invented.
Noting that the innovation of such high-protein and drought tolerant grass variety for the livestock is a remarkable progress in the livestock sector, he said this innovation will play a significant role in producing high quality animal feed in low cost.
The animal feed will reduce meat production cost and it would possible to bring the meat price comparatively at a tolerable limit for the common people, the minister added.
Addressing the researchers and scientists, Rashid said opportunity should be created for conducting research and innovative works for the welfare of the country.
The innovation by the Bangladeshi scientists will get recognition in coming days at the international level and it will more enrich country’s livestock and agriculture sector.
Regarding the higher livestock feed cost, state minister for fisheries and livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku said if the livestock feed cost is reduce the meat production cost will also come down enabling the consumers to buy meat at affordable price.
He emphasized research and technology based initiative aiming to ensure quality grass and animal feed in less cost.
With BLRI Director General (DG) Dr Shakila Faruque in the chair, the seminar also was attended by fisheries and livestock secretary M Delwar Hossain and Australian Deputy High Commissioner to Bangladesh Clinton Pobke.
Director General of the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) Shahzaman Khan also spoke on the occasion.
BLRI director Dr M Zillur Rahman and Professor of Farming Systems and Deputy Director of the Gulbali Institute at Charles Sturt University Professor Cameron Clark gave the welcome address at the seminar.
BLRI’s senior scientific officer and project coordinator Dr Mohammad Khairul Bashar presented a key note paper titled ‘Environmentally sustainable low-cost beef production practical solutions and partnership”.
