Gazipur: State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku has emphasized the necessity of preventing antibiotic misuse in poultry to lower production costs and ensure the provision of quality protein to consumers. He highlighted the importance of a coordinated effort between poultry farm owners, feed producers, and the government to achieve these goals.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Tuku made these remarks as the chief guest during a workshop titled 'Implementation of Fish Feed and Animal Feed Act, 2010 and Enforcing Quality Control,' held at the PTI auditorium in Gazipur Sadar. He stressed that better coordination would lead to profitable poultry farming and a cost-effective supply of safe protein for consumers.
Tuku underscored the significance of marginal farmers as the driving force behind the progress of the country's poultry and livestock sector. He noted that the government aims to support these farmers and create new entrepreneurs within the sector. The introduction of the farmer card is part of this effort, facilitating easy access to credit, electricity rebates, and government incentives.
Addressing the excessive use of antibiotics, Tuku warned that unnecessary antibiotic usage jeopardizes food security and inflates production costs. He urged livestock officials to work actively at the grassroots level to raise awareness among farmers about drug use and maintaining sustainable production through scientific methods.
He reiterated the government's commitment to keeping production costs manageable to provide consumers with safe food at fair prices. Tuku also highlighted the poultry industry's potential, noting the recent success in exporting hatching eggs and the government's ongoing efforts to boost animal product exports while meeting local demands.
In response to allegations of horse meat being sold in Gazipur, Tuku assured that the government is vigilant, and necessary actions will be taken by the concerned authorities and law enforcement agencies.
The workshop, organized by the District Livestock Office, was attended by Fisheries and Livestock Secretary M Delwar Hossain as the special guest and presided over by Deputy Commissioner of Gazipur M Nurul Karim Bhuiyan. Director General of the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) M Shahjahan Khan also addressed the gathering.