July 24, 2023

Bangladesh stakeholders call for high-quality feed sourcing for livestock industries

The Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council (BPICC) in collaboration with the US Soybean Export Council (USSEC) organised a meeting among stakeholders in the Bangladesh livestock industry, which aimed to address the significance of feed quality in various sectors, including poultry, aquaculture, dairy, and cattle, Bangladesh Post reported.

Shamsul Arefin Khaled, president of BPICC and the Feed Industries Association Bangladesh (FIAB), noted that the country meets its demand for poultry, aqua, dairy, and cattle feeds through local production. Over time, the industry has achieved remarkable feed quality standards, enabling it to export products to neighbouring countries like India and Nepal.

To ensure the excellence of these products, including Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) and performance, the industry relies on reliable and high-quality soybean and soybean meal imports mainly from the USA, Brazil, and Argentina.

Kevin Roepke, regional director for South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa at USSEC, emphasised that a country's economic growth is intrinsically linked to the health and well-being of its people. Protein, in particular, is vital for cognitive development.

Roepke referred to a World Food Programme report stating that around 11 million people suffer from acute hunger in Bangladesh. Addressing this nutrition deficiency requires providing access to affordable, nutritious, and high-quality protein.

USSEC conducted a "Bangladesh Protein Perception Study," revealing that a significant portion of Bangladeshis are unaware of the recommended daily protein intake. The study found that 62% of consumers identified cereal (dal) as a primary source of protein.

To raise awareness about protein's importance in human nutrition and advocate for access to quality protein for all individuals, the Right to Protein global campaign was highlighted by Khabibur Rahman, USSEC Team-Lead Bangladesh.

Moderating the meeting, Md Sirajul Hoque, senior vice-president of the World's Poultry Science Association- Bangladesh Branch (WPSA-BB), shared that Bangladesh produces approximately 7.5 to 8 million metric tonnes of feed annually.

-      Bangladesh Post