Bangladesh produces about 15.753 million tonnes (157.53 lakh tonnes) of milk a year against national demand of 16.279 million tonnes (162.79 lakh tonnes). Closing that gap will take more than higher output, state minister for fisheries and livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku said: the dairy sector has to raise productivity and cut greenhouse gas emissions to become sustainable, profitable and climate-resilient.
He was speaking as chief guest at the Annual Green Dairy Partnership Summit 2026 at the Lakeshore Grand Hotel in Dhaka on Thursday, 12 November, held under the theme of a sustainable, low-carbon and efficient dairy sector for Bangladesh.
About 1.5 million smallholder families earn a regular income from dairy, the minister said, with rural women playing a large part in running farms and young people creating openings in feed production, artificial insemination, milk collection and agribusiness. He called for better technology, training, finance and market access for these farmers, women and young entrepreneurs.
He named high feed prices, low productivity, an inadequate cold chain and weak waste management as the sector's main problems. Biogas and organic fertiliser from dung, balanced feed, scientific breeding and better farm management, he said, can raise output and reduce pollution at the same time.
On policy, he cited implementation of the Bangladesh Dairy Development Board Act 2023, milk quality and safety, and action against adulteration. He asked development partners and research institutes to work with the Department of Livestock Services and the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) on technology transfer and farmer skills, and urged dairy processors to expand milk collection networks and strengthen partnerships with smallholders.
Denmark's ambassador to Bangladesh, Christian Brix Møller, gave the welcome address. Department of Livestock Services director general Md Shahjaman Khan and BLRI director general Dr Shakila Faruque were special guests, and Solidaridad Network Asia's country manager for Bangladesh, Selim Reza Hasan, attended with representatives of government and private bodies, development partners and the dairy industry.
Photo: Reaid Hossain / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Source: Krishi Sangbad
Comments
(0)