A three-day international poultry show-2019 began yesterday at the International Convention City Bashundhara in the capital.
Agriculture Minister Md Abdur Razzaque inaugurated the event that will close on March 9.
World's Poultry Science Association-Bangladesh Branch (WPSA-BB) and Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council (BPICC) jointly organized the show. Participants from around 22 countries are showcasing their modern technology.
At the inaugural ceremony, Razzaque said the poultry sector has potentials. "It has expended vastly in the last 10 years. We are almost becoming self-sufficient in food. Now, we want food security," he said.
"We have been able to achieve MDG and will attain SDG by 2030. The government is prioritizing the agriculture sector. We hope it will become a lucrative sector within a short time," he said.
“Sometimes the local poultry farmers face price volatility. For example, if an egg production price becomes higher than the market price, how they will sustain in business? So, the stakeholders should look after the market and management,” the minister added.
Professor ABM Abdullah, former dean of medicine faculty of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, read the keynote paper while Shamsul Arefin Khaled, president of WPSA-BB, was in the chair.
In his keynote presentation, Dr ABM Abdullah said the poultry meat and eggs can play vital role in the country to fulfill protein deficiency. “There are some myth among the general people on the poultry meat and eggs. But those are very safe for the human body even for the patient with heart disease and hypertension.”
“It is reality that although the red meat including beef and mutton has the higher destructive element for the human body –cholesterol, the poultry meat and eggs do not have that. Every person can take eggs at least 1-2 daily without any hesitation.” Dr Abdullah said.
He also stated that poultry meat and eggs are the cheapest options for the people in Bangladesh rather than any other protein-based food like beef, mutton, pulses etc.
WPSA-BB President Shamsul Arefin Khaled said it is imperative to flourish the local poultry industry for developing a wise and nutrient nation. “Once the Bangladeshi nationals were named as the Bengali with rice and fish, but now they should be branded as nation of rice-poultry meat-egg-fish.”
Some 800 stalls of 500 companies from 22 countries across the globe are participating at the 3-day poultry show.
The minister urged the poultry businessmen to look for international markets for earning foreign currencies.
Moshiur Rahman, president of BPICC, Dr Hiresh Ranjan Bhowmik, director general of the Department of Livestock Services, Dr Nathu Ram Sarker, director general of Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, among others, were also present at the program.
