Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhtar on Friday called on farmers to enhance buffalo production to address Bangladesh’s rising demand for meat and protein. Speaking as the chief guest at the opening ceremony of the 11th Asian Buffalo Congress-2024, held at BCDM in Savar, she emphasized the increasingly vital role of buffaloes beyond agriculture.
"Buffaloes, once primarily viewed as agricultural animals, are now indispensable to our dietary needs," she said. The adviser highlighted that Bangladesh, despite its small size, holds a wealth of biodiversity, with buffaloes playing a crucial role in rural livelihoods and nutrition.
She specifically recognized the contributions of rural women in buffalo rearing for milk and meat production, citing Bhola as an example. "In Bhola, thousands of buffaloes are raised to produce buffalo milk curd," she noted, underlining the economic impact of these efforts on local communities.
The congress, attended by experts and stakeholders from across Southeast Asia, also addressed the need for stronger policies to support buffalo farming. Acknowledging that buffalo production has often been overlooked at the policy level, the adviser assured attendees that the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock would implement targeted strategies to bolster the sector.
She also addressed climate change challenges, suggesting that buffalo farming can help reduce CO₂ emissions through sustainable practices. Drawing on examples from Italy's thriving buffalo farming sector, she pointed out, “Italy has demonstrated the profitability of buffalo farming, and we have similar potential here in Bangladesh.” She encouraged farmers to adopt best practices from Italy, which could lead to profitable, sustainable outcomes domestically.
The event, chaired by Prof. Omar Farooqui, included contributions from Syed Mahmud Belal Haider, Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Animal Resources; Dr. Mohammad Rayazul Haque, Director General of the Department of Livestock; Dr. SM Jahangir Hossain, Director General of the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute; and Antonio Borghese, Secretary General of the International Buffalo Federation. Other esteemed guests included Dr. Ashok Kumar Balhara and Dr. Hiranmoy Biswas.