Adviser to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Farida Akhter has called for strengthening the regional centres for quelling the existing problems in the livestock sector.
She said the regional centres of Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) should be transformed into research hubs for exploring the potentialities of the sectors.
The adviser came up with the observation while addressing a daylong workshop titled "Research Planning for Development of Livestock in Barind Region" on Saturday as the chief guest.
BLRI Rajshahi Regional Centre organized the workshop at Rajabarihat Dairy and Livestock Development Farm under Godagari upazila in the district.
With BLRI Director General Dr Shakila Faruque in the chair, the workshop was addressed, among others, by Divisional Director of the Department of Livestock Dr Ananda Kumar Adhikary and Divisional Director of the Department of Fisheries Muhammad Saifuddin.
dviser Farida Akhter underscored the need for close-coordination between the works of the Department of Livestock and BLRI for attaining desired yield in this field.
Terming the training related to livestock as very vital for youth development she noted that the training must be expanded towards the doorsteps of the grassroots people. Priority should be given to women training for making them entrepreneurs, she added.
She mentioned that there are enormous scopes of becoming big entrepreneurs through rearing and fattening cattle, goat, duck and other poultry birds and the youths should be encouraged to this field.
Farida Akhter said the fisheries and the livestock sectors are contributing a lot towards the country's food production side by side with agriculture so there is no way but to give importance on the livestock and fisheries for ensuring food safety for the gradually mounting population.
Earlier, the adviser also opened a farmers training titled "Value Added Poultry Production and Marketing in Improved Technologies, Hygienic and Safe Method" at the same venue as the chief guest.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
