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) in Rangpur city said the animal husbandry, poultry and diary sectors have attained significant success in producing meat and egg in the last three years.
Currently, there are 2.0-2.5 million (20.25 lakh) local, highbred and foreign origin cows at over 8,000 dairy farms, 35,000 buffaloes at 1,500 farms, 4.1 million (41 lakh) goats at 2,500 farms and 0.7 million (seven lakh) sheep at over 2.6 million (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," said Agriculturist Md. Habibur Rahman, Deputy Director of the DLS in Rangpur Division.
The farm owners and farmers produced over 1.36 million (13.61-lakh) tonnes of meat during fiscal year 2018-2019 (FY '19) in all eight districts of Rangpur division, higher by over 0.36 million (3.61-lakh) tonnes of meat than the demand of 1.0 million (10-lakh) tonnes for around 17.5 million (1.75 crore) population.
"The meat production stood at over 0.97 million (9.71 lakh) tonnes during the last fiscal year (2017-18 financial year) while over 0.98 million (9.81 lakh) tonnes during fiscal year 2016-17 FY in the division," Rahman said. Meat production marked significant increase during the FY '19 than the previous fiscal years in the division where a target of producing 1.5 million (10.50 lakh) tonnes of meat has been fixed for the current fiscal year (FY '20), he said.
Similarly, farmers and poultry farm owners produced 1.98 billion (198 crore) pieces of eggs against the local demand of 1.86 billion (185 crore) pieces in all eight districts of Rangpur division during the FY '19.
"Over 202 crore (2.02 billion) pieces of eggs were produced during 2017-18 fiscal year and 200 crore (2.0 billion) pieces during the 2016-17 fiscal year against the demand of 1.82 billion (182 crore) pieces for 1.75 crore (17.5 million) population in the division," he further said.
During the last three years, the DLS provided training on animal husbandry, poultry and grass cultivation to over 1.2 million (12 lakh) farm-owners, unemployed male and female youths, small and marginal farmers and landless people of the division.
"Among them, more than four lakh (0.4 million) people have achieved self-reliance through animal husbandry, poultry, diary and grass farming along with creating jobs for over two million (20 lakh) people in the livestock sector," he added.
Talking to the news agency, couple Ashraful Islam and Sabina Yasmin of Osmanpur Khamarerdanga village in Badarganj upazila of the district 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 Tk 25 lakh (Tk 2.5 million) now.
Similarly, couple Habibur Rahman and Monwara Khatun of village Chhatas Chawrabari in Kawnia upazila 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 Tk 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 Tk 50-lakh (Tk 5.0 million)," said Monwara adding that they have employed 12 workers permanently.
Similarly, Bakul Mian of village Moyenpur in Mithapukur upazila said he has 30 cows now. Of them, nine cows give 60 kilogram of milk daily and nine pregnant cows will give birth to heifers soon.
He also recently sold 12 bullocks and oxen at Tk 0.7 million (Tk 7.0 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 Tk 2.0 lakh (Tk 0.2 million) and employed ten persons permanently,' he added.
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