In addition to increasing milk and meat production in the country, the Minister of Fisheries and Livestock and Agriculture Ministry emphasized on strengthening research and development activities in the buffalo sector to strengthen the rural economy. Amin ur Rashid MP.
He said this while addressing the chief guest at the “Buffalo Research and Development (1st Revised) Project Concluding Workshop” organized by Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) at Savar on Tuesday afternoon.
The minister said that buffalo is an important resource in the livestock sector of Bangladesh. There is no substitute for research to increase buffalo productivity, preserve improved breeds and bring modern technology to farmers. If the researched technology can be brought to the field level, the country’s milk and meat production will increase and the farmers will benefit economically.
Buffalo milk is a major source in developed countries. There is relatively little agriculture in the grasslands of our country. Here, if we can cultivate salt-tolerant varieties of grass suitable for saline soils, a suitable area for buffalo rearing can be created. But in future there will be scarcity of land for agriculture. Therefore, research activities should be conducted on how to raise buffaloes in less space.
Apart from this, the role of research institutes is very important in promoting the agriculture and livestock sectors in a coordinated way to ensure food security. Government will continue to provide necessary support to further accelerate research activities.
The minister also said that the government has taken up the work of expanding Black Bengal goats to make the marginalized people self-reliant. A plan has been taken to create one farm in each district. With the aim of alleviating rural poverty and creating employment, the then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia-led government took special initiatives to rear ‘Black Bengal’ goats during the period 2001-2006.
Programs like artificial insemination of goats, loans on easy terms and free gift of goats to poor women were taken up. But unfortunately, the subsequent governments abandoned the project due to political vendetta and now the Black Bengal breed is on the verge of extinction. The current government will bring back the heritage of Black Bengal at any cost. Black Bengal Goat is our history of thousands of years. We want to re-introduce the Black Bengal goat.
Stating that more allocation will be given in the research sector in the future, the minister further said that the country cannot move forward without research. The government will spare no expense in research. But whether research is being done in real sense or not, it must be confirmed. So it will be checked whether there is real research or not. No concession will be given in this regard.
He said to the researchers, do something for the future. Because your ancestors did good things, you are now enjoying many benefits. Research cannot be done by guarding, it has to come from within you.
Various project activities, research results, buffalo breed development, breeding technology and farm management were presented on the occasion. The researchers said that through the project, significant progress has been achieved in expanding modern technology in buffalo rearing, increasing productivity and improving the capacity of farmers.
The speakers in the workshop emphasized on the sustainable development of the buffalo sector and the concerted efforts of all the concerned parties for the extension of the researched technologies to the field level. Besides, the buffalo farmers who participated in the workshop from Rajshahi expressed their feelings. At this time, government officials, farmers and representatives of related sectors participated.
In the speech of the special guest, the Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. Delwar Hossain said that the number of basic research should be increased as a research institution. All the technologies that have been developed from the project must be properly implemented.
In the speech of the president. Shakila Farooq said, the number of buffaloes in our country is low; The number of buffaloes should be further increased. Technologies developed from buffalo research and development projects will help to increase buffalo population in the country.
Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock was present as a special guest in the organized workshop. Delwar Hossain, Professor of Bangladesh Agricultural University. AK Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan, Director General of Directorate of Livestock. Shahzaman Khan and others.
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