Fisheries and Livestock Minister Sham Rezaul Karim has said that government as well as private entrepreneurs are enriching the country's livestock sector through scientific process and keeping pace with the world.
The minister was speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of ACI Animal Genetics Research and Development Center at Sreepur in Gazipur on Wednesday.
At that time, the minister said, if agriculture is not spread in agriculture-oriented Bangladesh, the country will come to a standstill. Bangladesh has achieved self-sufficiency in fish, meat and eggs with the patronage of government and non-governmental organizations. Milk will also become self-sufficient in the near future. This has been possible because of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. His government thinks that people should stand by them and help them. If they are self-sufficient, the country will be self-sufficient.
He further said that the government is providing all kinds of assistance to the farmers in the livestock sector. The government wants animal food and fish food to be produced in the country. In this case, other private sectors like ACI also have to come forward. ACI is collecting, storing and supplying artificially bred semen to farmers.
The Minister urged the ACI to ensure that farmers who take advantage of artificial insemination do not suffer.
He further added that the present government is a private sector friendly government. The government has created a conducive environment for those who want to invest in the country and abroad. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is taking the country forward at an irresistible pace. Now the quality of life of the people has improved. But there is a community who do not like this country. They are also spreading propaganda about the Padma Bridge. We have to stand by the side of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to continue the trend of development. If we stand by Sheikh Hasina, the country will prosper. Private industrial establishments will be further developed. Everyone will smile. In order to continue this trend, we have to stay away from fire terrorists, petrol terrorists and those who do politics of destruction of the country.
Earlier, in response to a question from reporters about sacrificial animals, the minister said that there has been a revolutionary change in the production of livestock in Bangladesh. We are now self-sufficient. There is no need to bring an animal from India, Myanmar or any other country for sacrifice. There are enough animals in the country. Measures have been taken to prevent animals from entering the country illegally. There is no reason to doubt the sacrificial animal. Enough for the animal sacrifice produced in the country. We will not allow this proud place of livestock production to be ruined in any way. No animals will come from outside, the animals produced in the country are enough for us.
Responding to another question from reporters, the minister said Bangladesh has come to the place of unimaginable success in livestock. The government has many research institutes in this sector. The government is always encouraging other private sectors including ACI. The private sector is importing improved breeds of animals for artificial insemination and setting up laboratories. It will be possible to produce more meat and milk from improved breeds of animals produced through artificial insemination. The government wants to spread these activities all over the country. To increase the production of this sector at the grassroots level, production of quality semen is required and scientific application of artificial insemination is required. The government as well as the ACI need to further expand such activities.
The minister also said that the price of meat would go down if production increased and traders made less profit.
Earlier, the Minister visited ACI's Genetics Lab and Breeding Station.
