Dhaka: Fisheries and Livestock Advisor Farida Akhtar today highlighted Bangladesh’s vulnerability to the adverse effects of global carbon emissions, asserting that the nation is significantly impacted despite its minimal contribution to the problem. Speaking at a workshop as the chief guest at the Krishibid Institute Bangladesh (KIB), Akhtar emphasized the disproportionate burden faced by Bangladesh due to emissions predominantly generated by wealthier countries.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the workshop was jointly organized by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Bank (WB) to assess the impact of the Livestock and Dairy Development Project (LDDP). The focus was on gathering cow and dairy farm-related data and quantifying greenhouse gas emissions using the IPCC tier-2 project framework. The director general of the Livestock Department, Dr. Mohammad Abu Sufian, chaired the workshop.
Farida Akhtar underscored the need for self-sufficiency and criticized developed nations for their lack of assistance in reducing carbon emissions. She stressed the importance of increasing investment in the livestock sector, noting that meat production is a significant source of protein but must be managed to minimize methane emissions.
The adviser urged researchers and scientists to take an active role in addressing these challenges. The workshop featured speeches from Dr. Shakila Faruk, director general of the Livestock Research Institute, alongside FAO representative Jiaoqun Shi, WB senior agro-economist and task team leader Amadu Ba, academic professionals, and livestock department officials.
LDDP Project Director Dr. Md. Jashim Uddin and Chief Technical Coordinator Dr. Md. Golam Rabbani also contributed to the discussions, highlighting the collaborative efforts needed to tackle the environmental impact of livestock production in Bangladesh.