United News of Bangladesh

Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid on Tuesday said vaccines for avian influenza and goat pox developed by the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) will be commercially produced and made available to farmers across the country. He was speaking as the chief guest at a ceremony held at the ministry's conference room, where vaccines were formally handed over to the Department of Livestock Services (DLS), paving the way for their commercial production and field-level distribution. Describing the livestock sector as a vital part of the country's agricultural economy, the minister said farmers could suffer heavy financial losses if diseases in the poultry and livestock sector are not brought under control, noting that avian influenza in particular can severely disrupt poultry production and farm management. He said strengthening the capacity to develop and produce effective vaccines domestically is therefore essential. "Today's event is not merely a formality of handing over a vaccine; rather, it marks an important step in bringing knowledge and innovation from the laboratory to farmers on the ground." Aminur added that vaccines developed through indigenous technology and research will play a key role in disease control, reducing production costs, and cutting import dependence in the country's livestock and poultry sectors. He said BLRI scientists and researchers developed the vaccines using local technology and materials after years of research, trials, and overcoming various challenges. The minister observed that an innovation achieved in the laboratory fails to yield its full benefit unless it reaches ordinary people, making it now most important to take research-based innovations to the stage of commercial production and ensure their use at the farmer level. Highlighting various government initiatives for farmers and agriculture, he said a large section of the population is directly or indirectly linked to agriculture, and that strengthening agriculture and farmers would boost the overall economy. Aminur said the government is emphasising re-excavation of rivers, increasing water flow, halting the catching of jatka (juvenile hilsa), and completely stopping the use of current nets to preserve the production and taste of hilsa, the national fish. Alongside this, he said, efforts are underway to bring fishermen under alternative employment opportunities instead of limiting support to food assistance alone. Speaking as a special guest, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku said building domestic capacity for vaccine production will reduce import dependence and gradually move the country towards self-sufficiency.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid on Thursday said there is no shortage of sacrificial animals in the country. “So, the sacrifice (Qurbani) will be performed with animals reared by local farmers,” he said while exchanging views with officials at the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) auditorium in Savar. The minister said more than one crore sacrificial animals have been prepared to meet the country’s demand.  He said the supply of cattle, goats and sheep is higher than the required number for Eid, meaning there will be no need to import animals from abroad this year. He also said strict instructions have been issued to law enforcement agencies to prevent the illegal entry of livestock through border. People in border areas have also been warned to ensure that no animals are smuggled into the country. Emphasising sustainable livestock development, the minister said efforts are underway to ensure low-cost cattle rearing and to increase the production of improved grass varieties. “I came to BLRI today to review the progress of ongoing research activities,” he said. Regarding rawhide prices, the minister said new rates have been fixed through discussions with traders, adding that a meeting was held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of the Commerce Minister with stakeholders present. He said the present government is agriculture-friendly and highlighted recent initiatives including farmer cards, family cards, and Tk 10,000 agricultural loan waivers, calling them farmer-oriented decisions.