Bangladesh’s Advisor on Fisheries and Livestock, Farida Akhter, has emphasized that buffaloes are a unique national resource of Bangladesh, yet have long remained neglected. She assured that the government will make every effort to ensure such negligence does not continue.
She made the remarks on Wednesday morning while addressing the opening session of the “Scientific Conference 2025,” organized by the Bangladesh Buffalo Association at the Buffalo Breeding and Development Farm in Savar.
The advisor noted that buffalo curd has already received international recognition as a Geographical Indication (GI) product of Bangladesh. She added that various other value-added products such as cheese can also be produced from buffalo milk. With proper training and technological support, farmers can enter new markets, contributing significantly to the national economy through exportable dairy products.
“Food production is truly complete only when agriculture and livestock are integrated,” she said. “However, in practice, many people consider only crops as food production. The excessive use of pesticides and herbicides in agriculture has reduced the availability of grass for cattle, goats, and buffaloes. The loss of grazing lands in the name of agricultural expansion is an alarming trend.”
She called for specific policies and coordinated planning to address this issue, stressing that the importance of buffaloes in the livestock sector has yet to be fully realized. The number of buffaloes in the country continues to decline, mainly due to lack of grazing grounds and persistent neglect, she added.
The event was presided over by Professor Dr. Md. Omar Faruk, President of the Bangladesh Buffalo Association. Professor Dr. Md. Ruhul Amin, Dean of the Faculty of Animal Husbandry at Bangladesh Agricultural University, attended as Guest of Honor.
Special guests included Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Nilufa Akhter, Director General of the Department of Livestock Services Dr. Md. Abu Sufian, and Director General of the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute Dr. Shakila Faruk.
During the conference, Dr. Preetish from Haryana, India, shared practical insights into the Murrah buffalo management model based on local farmer experiences. Dr. Hironnoy Biswas discussed Italy’s dairy production system and the potential for sustainable buffalo milk production in Bangladesh. The welcome address was delivered by Dr. Goutam Kumar Deb.
The conference brought together scientists, government and private sector officials, farmer representatives, and organizations involved in buffalo services and development.
Later in the afternoon, Advisor Farida Akhter inaugurated the newly built Central Artificial Insemination Laboratory within the premises of the Central Cattle Breeding and Dairy Farm in Savar. She visited various sections of the lab and observed its modern facilities.
Director General of the Department of Livestock Services Dr. Md. Abu Sufian and Director of the Central Artificial Insemination Center Md. Shahjahan Khan, along with other officials, were present at the inauguration.
