State Minister, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku on Thursday highlighted dairy's role in supporting 1.5 million smallholder families and the need to bridge Bangladesh's milk supply gap.
Speaking as the chief guest at the annual “Green Dairy Partnership Summit 2026,” he highlighted the “Danida Green Dairy Partnership” as an example of how partnership, innovation, and farmer empowerment can drive growth.
The State Minister also emphasised the sector's 30/30 vision of reducing emissions while increasing farmer incomes through climate-smart practices, alongside greater investment in milk collection infrastructure and market access.
Government leaders, development partners, researchers, and dairy industry representatives gathered at the Summit to advance a shared vision for a climate-resilient, low-carbon, and commercially viable dairy sector in Bangladesh.
Held under the theme “Pioneering a Low-Carbon, Climate-Resilient, and Viable Dairy Sector in Bangladesh,” the summit showcased how innovation, partnership, and farmer-led transformation can strengthen dairy productivity, improve rural livelihoods, and support Bangladesh's long-term food and nutrition security.
Supported by the Danida Green Business Partnerships under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, the initiative brings together Solidaridad Network Asia, Arla Foods Bangladesh, PRAN Dairy, SEGES Innovation, and the Danish Agriculture & Food Council.
Working with 10,000 dairy farming households under PRAN Dairy’s network across southwest Bangladesh, including 8,549 women farmers, the Green Dairy Partnership is helping improve farm productivity, resource efficiency, and climate-smart practices through the Arla Big 5 framework.
It focuses on feed efficiency, balanced nutrition, herd robustness, manure management and responsible land use.
The partnership has also advanced women's economic empowerment, increasing the proportion of women independently making decisions over dairy income from 23.58% in 2025 to 41.66% in 2026, strengthening household resilience and economic participation.
At the event, partners unveiled the commemorative coffee table book, ‘Feeding the Future of Bangladesh: Transforming Dairy, Nourishing Generations’, documenting smallholder farmers' journeys and the partnership's key achievements.
Md. Delwar Hossain, Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, emphasised the importance of farmer training, knowledge transfer, and effective implementation of the Bangladesh Dairy Development Board (BDDB) Act, 2023.
He noted that the Danida Green Dairy Partnership is building farmer capacity through practical training and improved dairy management practices to support the sector's long-term growth.
Ambassador of Denmark to Bangladesh Christian Brix Møller reaffirmed Denmark's commitment to low-carbon agricultural development through partnerships that combine global expertise and local knowledge. He emphasized the need for a resilient, inclusive dairy ecosystem that supports long-term growth.
Delivering the operational perspective,Md. Shahzaman Khan, Director General (In-charge) of the Department of Livestock Services (DLS), affirmed that the dairy value chain is the highest priority for building an eco-friendly food system.
Selim Reza Hasan, Country Manager of Solidaridad Network Asia, observed: “When women and rural households gain financial autonomy, the entire agricultural value chain becomes stronger and more resilient.”
Laurent Ponty, Managing Director of Arla Foods Bangladesh, highlighted how farmer-focused approaches such as the Arla Big 5 can boost productivity, strengthen livelihoods, and reduce on-farm emissions. Uzma Chowdhury, Director of Finance at PRAN-RFL Group, underscored the importance of quality infrastructure, transparent supply chains, and continued investment to support a more competitive dairy industry.
The summit ended with a shared commitment among government agencies, research institutions, development partners, and private-sector stakeholders to scale proven models and build a climate-resilient, future-ready, and competitive dairy sector in Bangladesh.