Focus on safe poultry feed to protect public health

RAJSHAHI, Mar 19 (BSS): Speakers at a participatory discussion called for producing safe poultry feed to get good quality of its meat for keeping public health free from various diseases.

They mentioned that manufacturing and marketing of safe poultry feed is the precondition for good poultry farming, adding that all concerned government and non-government bodies should come forward and work together to this end.

The observations came at a meeting styled "Poultry Feed Safety and Consumers Rights" at conference hall of Department of Livestock Services (DLS) recently.

Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB) organised it in association with UKaid and British Council. An Issue-based project on "Food Safety Governance in Poultry Sector in Bangladesh" supported the programme.

DLS Deputy Director Dr Sheikh Azizur Rahman addressed the meeting as the chief guest with its assistant director Dr Humayun Kabir in the chair.

District Livestock Officer Nizam Uddin, Additional District Livestock Officer Dr Zulfikar Akhter Hossain, Upazila Livestock Officer Ismail Hossain and CAB Project Coordinator Omor D Costa and Field Officers Mohidul Hassan and Mozammel Haque addressed it as resource persons.

Dr Rahman told the meeting that time-fitting measures are being taken to bring all the poultry farmers, traders, feed manufactures, sellers and others concerned under necessary training to enhance their knowledge in this field.

He laid stress on combined working of all

quarters like farmers, hatchery owners, poultry bird sellers, feed meal manufacturers and sellers and the field level officers and staffs to this end.

He added that poultry industry has the potential to help Bangladesh achieve the Sustainable Development Goals such as eliminating malnutrition and ensuring better health of the countrymen.

During his concept paper presentation, Agriculturist Mohidul Hassan gave an overview of the country's poultry sector. He puts forward a set of recommendations on how to make the poultry sector safe and hygienic.

Using overrated antibiotic in poultry feed is harmful to public health. So, time has come to look into the matter with utmost sincerity. "We have to ensure safe poultry feed and good poultry farming management," he added.