December 2, 2024

Preference to be given to local meat production rather than imports to meet Bangladesh's beef demand

The advisor to Bangladesh's Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Farida Akhter, on December 1 said that preference will be given to domestic producers rather than importing meat as the demand for beef in the domestic market has sparked interest from foreign countries to export meat to the country.

Akhter made the statement during the inaugural session of the two-day "Annual Research Review Workshop-2024" at the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) in Savar, where the results and progress of recently completed research were reviewed.

In her speech, Farida Akhter explained that while international markets are keen to supply meat to Bangladesh, the government is prioritising local production to meet the demand. She stressed the importance of supporting domestic livestock farmers and producers to ensure the nation's self-sufficiency in meat production.

Farida also praised BLRI for its valuable contributions to research in the field of livestock and poultry. She suggested that the discoveries made by the institute should not be confined to the institution but should be shared through media outreach, seminars and workshops, ensuring that they reach a wider audience, including entrepreneurs, researchers and policymakers.

She also pointed out the importance of collaboration, noting that while BLRI currently works mainly with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), there are other organisations that could help enrich its research activities.

- Daily Observer