Sheep farming for poverty eradication
Friday, 5 June 2009
THE government needs to import sheep from abroad for the ultra poor rural families. Sheep farming can improve the standard of living of the people who are at below poverty level. Awami League (AL) has assumed the executive responsibility of the government of Bangladesh at beginning of 2009. Majority people in Bangladesh are poor and ultra poor. Their votes gave Awami League such a land slide victory in last Jatiya Sangsad (parliamentary) election. That is why Awami League woe it to the poor people that an environment conducive to enhancing the income for the mass people has to be created. It is the main work before the government now.
The government needs to take a programme under livestock and social welfare ministries to give 10 sheep a year free of charge to one ultra poor family in each of 5,000 unions to help them enhance their income. The sheep can be imported from New Zealand and Australia in phases. New Zealand would reduce sheep farming and increase cow rearing. When price of natural wool falls, Australia kills a huge number of sheep to keep the wool price at the desired level.
The imported sheep should be donated to the ultra poor families four times each year, that is after every three months. If 10 sheep are given at a time, they may not cope with the farming, which can be quite demanding. After they gain some experience, it will be easier to rear more sheep. Four sheep can be given in the first installment. Subsequently, two sheep could be given at intervals of three months. Each family would need Tk 1,000 per month for the first year to rear the sheep. Most of the 5,000 ultra poor families will be able to come out of poverty every year. The Awami League-led government will, thus, be able to enhance the standard of living of about 20,000 ultra poor families during its tenure.
Sheep meet is a nutritious and tasty. The programme can solve the scarcity of animal protein in four years. The programme will also increase the supply of sacrificial animals during the Eid-ul-Azha.
Md. Ashraf Hossain
120, Central Bashabo
Dhaka-1214
The government needs to take a programme under livestock and social welfare ministries to give 10 sheep a year free of charge to one ultra poor family in each of 5,000 unions to help them enhance their income. The sheep can be imported from New Zealand and Australia in phases. New Zealand would reduce sheep farming and increase cow rearing. When price of natural wool falls, Australia kills a huge number of sheep to keep the wool price at the desired level.
The imported sheep should be donated to the ultra poor families four times each year, that is after every three months. If 10 sheep are given at a time, they may not cope with the farming, which can be quite demanding. After they gain some experience, it will be easier to rear more sheep. Four sheep can be given in the first installment. Subsequently, two sheep could be given at intervals of three months. Each family would need Tk 1,000 per month for the first year to rear the sheep. Most of the 5,000 ultra poor families will be able to come out of poverty every year. The Awami League-led government will, thus, be able to enhance the standard of living of about 20,000 ultra poor families during its tenure.
Sheep meet is a nutritious and tasty. The programme can solve the scarcity of animal protein in four years. The programme will also increase the supply of sacrificial animals during the Eid-ul-Azha.
Md. Ashraf Hossain
120, Central Bashabo
Dhaka-1214