The country’s dairy industry will be developed to world standards and the government will provide all kinds of assistance to promote the sector.
Fisheries and Livestock Minister Sham Rezaul Karim said this while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of World Milk Day and Dairy Week, 2021 and a seminar organized on the occasion at a hotel in the capital on Tuesday.
At the same time, he said, “Diversification of dairy products is very important. The government will provide all kinds of assistance to increase such products. For this, private entrepreneurs have to come forward. The steps taken by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government to develop the private sector have not been taken by any country in the subcontinent, not only in Bangladesh.”
He added, “We have set up an international standard quality control laboratory in Savar to test whether the milk is quality and healthy. For nutritious milk, the quality of the animal feed at its source level must be taken into consideration”.
"We have taken immediate steps to address the problem of import of animal feed and fish feed. We have made mobile sales arrangements for milk producers and consumers. Producers and consumers have benefited. In this way, we have tried to keep the entire dairy sector alive even in stagnation situation of Covid-19,” he added.
At the same time, the minister called upon the private entrepreneurs to come forward for the development of the dairy industry. He also assured that the government would extend all kinds of cooperation in this regard. Besides, the minister directed the livestock officials to take up the issue of development of dairy industry.
The Minister further added, “Milk is one of the ideal food for developing the talents of the people of the country. If milk production can be increased, the average life expectancy of the people of the country will increase. If we can produce quality milk, human immunity can be increased. A prosperous nation will be created, which will take the country to the forefront of development. Therefore, we have to make a concerted effort to increase milk production. The government will always be there. ”
Director General of the Department of Livestock Dr. Sheikh Azizur Rahman presided over the function and Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Raunak Mahmud was present as the special guest.
Director General of Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute Md. Abdul Jalil and Robert D. Simpson, Bangladesh Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations was present as the guest of honor. Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Shah Md. Imdadul Haque, Shyamal Chandra Karmakar, Subol Bose Moni and Md. Taufiqul Arif along with senior officials of the Ministry, current and former officials of the Department of Livestock, teachers and researchers of various universities He participated in the seminar.
