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Surplus meat, eggs being produced in Rangpur division


Bangladeshpost
Published : 07 Sep 2019 08:43 PM | Updated : 05 Sep 2020 05:26 AM

The livestock sector has achieved autarky producing surplus meat and eggs in Rangpur division meeting nourishment of local population and contributing to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs), reports BSS.

Officials at divisional office of the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) here said the animal husbandry, poultry and diary sectors have attained significant success in producing meat and egg in last three years.

Currently, there are 20.25-lakh local, highbred and foreign origin cows at over 8,000 dairy farms, 35,000 buffaloes at 1,500 farms, 41-lakh goats at 2,500 farms and seven-lakh sheep at over 2.60-lakh farms and over 15,000 poultry farms in Rangpur division.

“The success was achieved following the government’s various pragmatic steps taken to attain the SDGs by 2030 on the way to build a developed country by 2041,” Divisional Deputy Director of the DLS Agriculturist Md. Habibur Rahman said.

The farm owners and farmers produced 13.61-lakh tonnes of meat during the 2018-2019 FY in all eight districts of Rangpur division, higher by 3.61-lakh tonnes of meat than the demand of 10-lakh tonnes for around 1.75 crore population.

“The meat production stood at 9.71-lakh tonnes during the last 2017-2018 FY while 9.81-lakh tonnes during the 2016-2017 FY in the division,” Rahman said.

Meat production marked significant increase during the 2018-2019 FY than the previous fiscals in Rangpur division where a target of producing 10.50-lakh tonnes of meat has been fixed for the current 2019-2020 FY, Rahman added.

Similarly, farmers and poultry farm owners produced 198 crore pieces of eggs against the local demand of 185 crore pieces in all eight districts of Rangpur division during the last 2018-2019 FY.

“Over 202 crore pieces of eggs were producing during the 2017-2018 FY and 200 pieces during the 2016-2017 FY against the demand of 182 crore pieces of eggs for 1.75 crore population in the division,” Rahman said.

During the last three years, the DLS provided training on animal husbandry, poultry and grass cultivation to over 12-lakh farm-owners, unemployed male and female youths, small and marginal farmers and landless people of the division.

“Of them, more than four-lakh people have achieved self-reliance through animal husbandry, poultry, diary and grass farming along with creating jobs for over 20-lakh people in the livestock sector,” Rahman said.

Talking to the national news agency, couple Ashraful Islam and Sabina Yasmin of OsmanpurKhamarerdanga village in Badarganj upazila here said they have 13 cattle-heads, including five milk-giving cows, and 17 goats and five sheep.

“After getting assistance and training form the DLS, we have attained self-reliance through rearing cows and other domestic animals in recent years,” said Sabina adding that they have assets worth Taka 25-lakh now.

Similarly, couple Habibur Rahman and Monwara Khatun of village ChhatasChawrabari in Kawnia upazila here said they got training and inputs from the DLS and loans from Milk Vita and BRAC Bank to expand their animal husbandry venture every year.

“Currently, we have 17 cows which give 200 kilogram of milk daily worth Taka 10,000 and eights pregnant cows those will give birth to heifers and produce milk soon,” said Monwara.

They also have 16 black Bengal goats, their 25 turkey hens give eggs and they have so far produced 300 turkey chicks.

“The total value of our livestock resources at our farm may be around Taka 50-lakh,” said Monwara adding that they have employed 12 workers permanently.

Similarly, BakulMian of village Moyenpur in Mithapukur upazila here said he has 30 cows now. Of them, nine cows give 60 kilogram daily and nine pregnant cows will give birth to heifers soon.

He also recently sold 12 bullocks and oxen at Taka seven lakh.

“Besides, I have 50 goats of different varieties after selling 25 goats recently and 4,500 pieces of ducks after selling 4,000 pieces at Taka two-lakh and employed ten persons permanently,’ he added.