Boosting rearing of Black Bengal goat stressed to meet protein demands. Substantial and sustainable boosting the rearing of black Bengal goats can be the best way of meeting protein demands coupled with promoting income generation and improving living and livelihood conditions of rural people.
Farming of Black Bengal goats has a vital role to play towards creating earning opportunities and reducing poverty besides meeting the protein demand of protein of rural people. Livestock scientists and researchers came up with the observation while addressing a daylong farmers’ field day meeting titled “Black Bengal Goat Rearing” here on Friday.
Boosting rearing of Black Bengal goat stressed to meet protein demands
On behalf of its ‘Breed Conservation and Development Research of Black Bengal Goat project’, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) organized the motivational meeting at its regional centre at Rajabari under Godagari Upazila in the district.
BLRI Director General Dr Jahangir Hossain addressed the meeting as chief guest, while Additional Director General Dr Zillur Rahman and District Livestock Officer Dr Zulfiker Akter Hossain spoke as special guests with Director of the project Dr Sadeque Ahmed in the chair.
Principal Scientific Officers Dr Sazedul Karim Sarker and Dr Goutam KUmar Dev and Union Parishad Chairman Belal Uddin also spoke on the occasion.
Dr Jahangir Hossain said the climate of the region is favorable for rearing Black Bengal goats. The unemployment problem can be solved and poverty of the rural people can be reduced easily by farming Black Bengal goats.
‘Black Bengal’ is one of the top 5 meat producing breeds in the world. Its child production capacity is high, the meat is delicious, the skin is of international quality, its life expectancy in the region’s climate is high and it is a tool for poverty alleviation.
The existing seven public sector farms in different parts of the country, including one in Rajshahi, have been renovated with modern facilities on behalf of the project.Sheds have been built as per the ideal standard. The farms have been modernized by setting up office, accommodation, godown, road, electrification, drainage, dipping bath, composting, shed, boundary wall and deep tube-well.
In his remarks, Dr Zillur Rahman said adequate knowledge about modern methods of goat rearing among marginal farmers together with technology development in goat rearing management is very important.So, emphasis has been given on ensuring proper breeding services of goats at rural level and imparting training to farmers on modern methods of goat rearing.
They are also setting up exhibition farms side by side with creating skilled manpower and public awareness in goat rearing coupled with supplying good quality goats from seven government goat development farms to the farmers at the upazila level.
Dr Rahman mentioned that there are immense prospects of increasing export of goat meat by adopting artificial insemination programs and increasing input support to medium-scale farmers, which will ease unemployment, meet nutritional needs, achieve economic independence, and earn foreign currency.
Dr Sadeque Ahmed told the meeting that the project has been implemented successfully as many unemployed youths and returnee migrants are now showing keen interest in rearing Black Bengal goats commercially.
Around 300 people consisting of the regional, district and upazila level officials concerned and farmers, both male and female, were present at the field day meeting.