Govt allocates over Tk2,727cr for fisheries and livestock sector in FY27

The government has proposed to allocate over Tk2727.51 crore for the fisheries and livestock sector.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury made the announcement while unveiling the national budget of 2026-27 in parliament with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad in the chair.

Of the proposed allocation, Tk604.69 crore has been earmarked for the fisheries sector while Tk1116.98crore for the livestock sector.

In the proposed budget, Tk2,022 crore has been allocated for operating expenditure.

"To implement our election manifesto, we have identified the fisheries and livestock sectors as national priorities. The role of these sectors is immense in ensuring a full supply of animal protein for the country's population, meeting nutritional needs, and promoting socio- economic development. Various development initiatives have been undertaken to boost the production and export of fish and livestock products," said the finance minister in his budget speech.

In the fisheries sector, he said the government's target for FY2026–27 is to produce 56 lakh 35 thousand metric tonnes of fish. Emphasising the blue economy, the government has adopted a plan to operate commercial vessels for harvesting tuna and pelagic fish in the deep sea, expand seaweed cultivation, and raise fisheries export earnings to one billion dollars by 2030, he added.

The finance minister said the government will strengthen nursery management and develop science-based aquaculture techniques for indigenous fish species, which will help revive the production and availability of disappearing native fish species.

To help fish farmers manage risks, plans have been adopted to introduce the country's first fisheries insurance scheme and to promote the mechanisation of commercial fish farms, he said.

To meet the country's growing demand for safe animal protein and ensure food and nutritional security, the government has adopted specific plans for the development of the livestock sector. 

At the same time, the government is taking measures to ensure an adequate supply of animal disease preventive medicines in every upazila. The government is undertaking necessary steps to ensure the production and supply of safe and quality feed for poultry and fish farms, he said.