Dhaka:The government of Bangladesh aims to increase the production of exportable eggs after successfully exporting hatching eggs to Nigeria for the first time this year, announced State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the state minister emphasized the importance of producing high-quality eggs, reducing production costs in the poultry sector, and enhancing farmers' capacity. He made these remarks during a discussion on World Egg Day at the Cotton Development Board's conference room in the capital. The theme of this year's event was "The Protein That Powers and Protects."
Tuku highlighted that producing quality eggs could help meet domestic demand and open up international markets. He called for coordinated efforts to strengthen the national economy and improve the production sector. He also stressed keeping poultry feed prices affordable to reduce egg production costs, urging stakeholders to avoid using antibiotics in poultry feed.
The minister underscored the nutritional benefits of eggs, noting their affordability and nutritional value. He encouraged the inclusion of one egg in the daily diet. Tuku appealed to young entrepreneurs to engage in the poultry sector, which could boost economic activities at the grassroots level and reinforce the rural economy.
The state minister also discussed the economic empowerment of rural women through poultry rearing, citing past initiatives by former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to distribute poultry and livestock among grassroots communities. He noted that this could help families meet egg requirements and generate additional income, thereby strengthening women's economic foundation.
Additionally, Tuku mentioned the need to reduce electricity costs for poultry farms and the government's support for exploring solar power solutions for these farms.
The event was chaired by Director General of the Department of Livestock Services Md. Shahjahan Khan, with other notable attendees including Mashiur Rahman, Convener of the Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council, and Md. Sirajul Haque, Senior Vice-President of the World's Poultry Science Association's Bangladesh branch, among others. A rally and free egg distribution were also part of the day's activities.