Dhaka:State Minister for the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Sultan Salauddin Tuku, underscored the importance of the dairy industry in supporting 1.5 million smallholder families in Bangladesh and addressed the need to close the country's milk supply gap. He made these remarks during the 'Green Dairy Partnership Summit 2026.'
According to United News of Bangladesh, the State Minister highlighted the 'Danida Green Dairy Partnership' as a prime example of how collaboration, innovation, and empowerment of farmers can propel growth within the dairy sector. He also emphasized the sector's 30/30 vision, which aims to reduce emissions while boosting farmer incomes through climate-smart practices and increased investment in milk collection infrastructure and market access.
The summit, held under the theme 'Pioneering a Low-Carbon, Climate-Resilient, and Viable Dairy Sector in Bangladesh,' brought together government leaders, development partners, researchers, and dairy industry representatives. The event focused on showcasing how innovation and farmer-led transformation could enhance dairy productivity, improve rural livelihoods, and ensure the country's long-term food and nutrition security.
Supported by the Danida Green Business Partnerships under Denmark's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the initiative includes Solidaridad Network Asia, Arla Foods Bangladesh, PRAN Dairy, SEGES Innovation, and the Danish Agriculture and Food Council. The partnership works with 10,000 dairy farming households, including 8,549 women farmers, to improve farm productivity and adopt climate-smart practices through the Arla Big 5 framework.
The partnership has notably advanced women's economic empowerment, with the percentage of women independently making decisions over dairy income rising from 23.58% in 2025 to 41.66% in 2026. This has strengthened household resilience and economic participation.
During the summit, a commemorative coffee table book titled 'Feeding the Future of Bangladesh Transforming Dairy, Nourishing Generations' was unveiled, documenting the journeys of smallholder farmers and the achievements of the partnership. Denmark's Ambassador to Bangladesh, Christian Brix Møller, reaffirmed Denmark's commitment to low-carbon agricultural development through partnerships that combine global expertise and local knowledge.
Md. Shahzaman Khan, Director General (In-charge) of the Department of Livestock Services, highlighted the priority of the dairy value chain in building an eco-friendly food system. Meanwhile, Laurent Ponty, Managing Director of Arla Foods Bangladesh, and Uzma Chowdhury, Director of Finance at PRAN-RFL Group, emphasized the importance of quality infrastructure, transparent supply chains, and continued investment for a competitive dairy industry.
The summit concluded with a shared commitment among government agencies, research institutions, development partners, and private-sector stakeholders to scale proven models and build a climate-resilient, future-ready, and competitive dairy sector in Bangladesh.