Bangladesh must prioritise native livestock conservation, says adviser
Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhtar has stressed the need to enhance productivity through the conservation and development of indigenous cattle breeds to ensure long-term sustainability in Bangladesh's livestock sector.
"The indigenous cattle breeds in Bangladesh have survived through generations by adapting to their environment. Their unique genetic traits are a valuable resource for future sustainable livestock development," she said.
She made the remarks at a national stakeholder validation workshop titled "Scaling-up Livestock Climate Actions to Enhance Nationally Determined Contributions – Phase II", held at Hotel Sarina in Dhaka on Wednesday.
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Farida Akhtar warned that overdependence on hybrid breeds may pose risks to the sector in the long run. She said conserving local, climate-tolerant breeds is vital as the sector faces growing challenges such as prolonged heatwaves, weather uncertainty, and production disruptions.
The adviser underscored the importance of ensuring active participation of Bangladeshi researchers, scientists, and relevant institutions — including the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI), Department of Livestock Services (DLS), and Department of Fisheries (DoF) — in upcoming global climate dialogues such as COP-30.
She also noted that the diets and consumption patterns of developed countries significantly contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions, yet climate-vulnerable nations like Bangladesh are often unfairly held accountable due to the lack of country-specific data and verified reporting systems.
The workshop was chaired by Dr Md Abu Sufian, Director General of the Department of Livestock Services. Jiaoqun Shi, FAO Representative in Bangladesh, and Dr Shakila Faruk, Director General of BLRI, attended as special guests. Jean De Dieu Ayabagabo, FAO Livestock and Climate Change Specialist, also spoke at the event.
Dr Khan Shahidul Haque, National Project Coordinator, FAO, delivered the welcome remarks, while Dr Shakif-ul-Azam, Deputy Director of the LDDP Project, presented a paper on "Achievements and Future Directions of LDDP Project in Reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions in Dairy and Beef Production Systems."
Senior officials from government and private organisations, development partners, researchers, and NGO representatives also attended the workshop.
