Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter has said that cattle feed can never be a source of profit for commercial companies.

She said this as chief guest at a seminar organised by the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) on Tuesday morning.

She advised farmers to grow grass and reduce their dependence on company cattle feed. She said BLRI's work on Napier and on grass-based feed management was very important. "We must bear in mind that there is not enough land for growing grass, so we need proper planning," she said.

The adviser said agriculture and livestock are not separate, so the government has taken steps to give livestock keepers all the facilities that crop farmers get. The government has plans to set up a separate bank for farmers, and the ministry is also working to create scope for low-interest loans for them.

She said the main duty of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock is to ensure the protein the country's people need. The goal will be met through the eggs, milk and meat farmers are producing, and farming and livestock rearing must be regarded as dignified work.

BLRI Director General Dr Shakila Faruq presided over the seminar. Department of Livestock Services Director General Dr Md Abu Sufian was the special guest. The keynote paper was presented by Dr Cameron Clark, professor and deputy director, Gulbali, at Charles Sturt University in Australia. The institute's additional director, Dr ABM Mustanur Rahman, gave the welcome address.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.