Mohammad Masud Majumder:
Fisheries and Livestock Advisor Farida Akhtar said that buffalo yogurt has gained special recognition as a GI product of Bangladesh. Buffalo is the country’s wealth, but has been neglected for a long time – the government will make every effort to ensure that this is not neglected. She said that if farmers are trained to produce not only yogurt but also cheese from buffalo milk, new income opportunities will be created. These products can also play an important role in the economy as they are exportable.
The advisor said these things in his speech as the chief guest at the “Scientific Conference-2025” organized by the Bangladesh Buffalo Association held at the Buffalo Breeding and Development Farm in Savar this morning.
The Fisheries and Livestock Advisor said that food production is developed by combining agriculture and livestock. But many people understand food production only as agriculture. Due to the increased use of pesticides and herbicides in agriculture, cows, goats, and buffaloes are unable to eat grass. In the name of increasing food production, buffalo pastures are decreasing, which is not at all desirable. He emphasized on formulating specific policies on the use of pesticides and adopting integrated plans for food production.
The livestock advisor said that buffaloes have not been given a proper place in the list of livestock. The importance of buffaloes in the livestock sector is still underestimated. The decrease in the number of buffaloes in the country is worrying; lack of pastures has become a major obstacle to buffalo farming.
Under the chairmanship of Bangladesh Buffalo Association President Prof. Dr. Md. Omar Farooq, Dean of the Faculty of Animal Husbandry of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Prof. Dr. Md. Ruhul Amin, spoke as the guest of honor. Nilufa Akhtar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Dr. Md. Abu Sufian, Director General, Department of Livestock, and Dr. Shakila Faruk, Director General, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, spoke as special guests.
At the conference, Dr. Pritish presented the experience of Murah buffalo management from the perspective of marginal farmers in Haryana, India. In addition, Dr. Hiranmoy Biswas highlighted the milk production management in Italy and the potential of sustainable buffalo milk production in the context of socio-economic changes in Bangladesh. At the time, Dr. Gautam Kumar Deb delivered the welcome speech.
The conference was attended by scientists, high-ranking government and private officials, representatives of black farmers and representatives of various buffalo service organizations.
Later this afternoon, the Fisheries and Livestock Advisor inaugurated the newly built Central Artificial Reproduction Laboratory at the Central Cattle Breeding and Dairy Farm premises in Savar. After the inauguration, the Advisor visited the laboratory and toured its various activities and modern facilities. At this time, Director General of the Department of Livestock Dr. Md. Abu Sufian, Director of the Central Artificial Reproduction Center Md. Shahzaman Khan and other concerned officials were present.
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