The country's cattle sector is a vivid example of how crisis can be turned into an opportunity. Over the last few years, the sector has been growing at a steady pace, and if such growth would continue the sector can meet the domestic demand of meat within a couple of years.
But government's move to import beef triggers concern among the cattle farmers, and other stakeholders. The commerce ministry has recently asked the tariff commission to submit its opinion over the pros and cons of beef import.
In the wake of the Indian government's embargo on cattle export to Bangladesh, country's cattle farmers pulled their socks up and raised their production to cater the growing demand.
According to the Livestock Department, total number of cow, buffalo and goat in the country increased to 54747,000 in the 2016-17 fiscal year which is higher by 388,000 than that of the previous fiscal.
Cattle firms mushroomed across the country particularly in the areas adjacent to the capital like Savar, Gazipur, and Keraniganj and in other districts, particularly in Pabna, Sirajganj, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kustia and Patuakhali.
Banks have also been playing a supportive role to boost the domestic cattle production by providing low-cost loans with a five per cent interest rate under Bangladesh Bank's refinance scheme.
Stakeholders said that dependence on Indian cattle has come down to 10 per cent from the previous 40 per cent and if the government policy support to this sector would continue the dependence on imported cattle would be diminished totally.
Hundreds of unemployed youths are now engaged in cattle farming across the country so this sector has the potential to generate a huge employment which ultimately would boost the gross domestic product (GDP).
The growth of this sector will directly contribute to the domestic leather and footwear industries, one of the major export-earning sectors of the country.
So decision to import beef will hit this fast-growing sector as well as the economy very hard. Instead of taking decisions which would impede the growth of this sector, the government should take measures like providing cattle feed, and better veterinary and extension services at a lower cost.
As rising price of beef is shown as an excuse for the idea of beef import, the government should conduct effective monitoring to prevent price manipulation by unscrupulous groups.
Considering the fact that the country's livestock sector is gaining momentum with a huge surge in cattle production, the move to import beef would be a serious blow to this sector.
[email protected]
