State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku on Saturday said the government has already undertaken initiatives to help poultry farmers expand their businesses and sustain production.
“Poultry farmers will be brought under the Farmer Card program to improve their access to institutional loans,” he said while speaking to reporters after a poultry farmers' rally and views-exchange meeting organised by Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association (BPIA) in Tangail.
Tuku said the poultry sector plays a crucial role in ensuring the country's nutritional security. "Every citizen should eat eggs to meet their daily protein requirements," he said, stressing the need to promote egg consumption as an affordable source of nutrition.
Tuku also said the government is committed to creating a supportive environment for poultry farmers so that they can continue contributing to the country's growing demand for protein. He noted that the inclusion of poultry farmers in the Farmer Card program would enable them to receive easier access to loans and other financial services.
He urged farmers to refrain from using antibiotics without the advice of qualified veterinarians, warning that indiscriminate use of antibiotics poses serious risks to public health.
"Food safety must remain a top priority," he said, adding that the government would work closely with the Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association to address the challenges facing the industry and take necessary policy measures to ensure its sustainable growth.
Chaired by Shaukat Ali Mollah, convener of Tangail district unit of Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association, the meeting was addressed by Boyzar Rahman, Director (Administration) of Department of Livestock Services, Mosharraf Hossain Chowdhury, President of the association's central committee, M Safiur Rahman, Secretary General of the organization, and Dr Mohammad Usman Gani, District Livestock Officer.
Participants discussed the challenges and prospects of Bangladesh's poultry industry and underscored the importance of producing safe poultry products to strengthen food security and improve public health.
