Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter has warned that the use of pesticides in agriculture is creating serious risks for the fisheries and livestock sectors. She said the issue of pesticide use must be incorporated not only into agricultural policy but also into fisheries and livestock policies.
She made the remarks on Monday afternoon while speaking as chief guest at a policy dialogue titled “Basic Policies of the Fisheries and Livestock Sector: Challenges in Implementation and the Way Forward.” The event was held at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka and jointly organized by the Agroecology Coalition Bangladesh, PKSF, Welthungerhilfe, Wave Foundation and FIVDB.
The adviser called for urgent measures to protect natural waterbodies and to conserve endangered native fish species. She said that alongside regulating fishing, ensuring the ecological protection of waterbodies has become crucial. She added that although many lakes and wetland zones have been declared sanctuaries, irresponsible tourism is obstructing the implementation of these conservation initiatives in the haor regions. She stressed that such concerns also need to be reflected in tourism policies.
The adviser noted that although fisheries and livestock are vital food production sectors, they often receive less policy priority compared to agriculture, and this imbalance must be addressed. Referring to rising temperatures in the Barind region due to climate change, she warned that the resulting fish deaths demand swift intervention.
The discussion was chaired by PKSF Managing Director Md. Fazlul Kader. Special guests included Shi Xiaokun, FAO Representative in Bangladesh, and Dr. Shakila Faruque, Director General of the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute.
The event began with a welcome address from Mohsin Ali, Convener of the Agroecology Coalition and Executive Director of Wave Foundation. Research findings were presented by Ahmed Borhan, Research Director at the Center for Social Research, while Kaniz Fatema, Deputy Director of Wave Foundation, moderated the session.
Senior officials from government and non-government organizations, representatives from various NGOs, and fishery and livestock farmers were in attendance.
