Dhaka: Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter today emphasized the necessity of reducing milk imports to prevent the potential ruin of local milk production resources. Addressing a seminar titled 'Potentials and Problems of Dairy Sector of The Country' at the Jatiya Press Club (JPC), she highlighted the importance of shifting away from foreign dependency to address the milk production deficit. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Farida Akhter stated that continuous dependency on imported milk threatens reliable local production sources, such as cows and goats. She urged a change in import dependency and technology to meet the milk shortage. The Fisheries and Livestock Journalists Forum (FLJF) organized the seminar where she also emphasized the role of the fisheries and livestock sector as a core supplier of protein and nutrition. Farida noted the increasing involvement of women, char area residents, and widows in animal husbandry. She expressed concern over dairy farmers and companies using dr ugs and antibiotics to boost milk and meat productivity, which has led to various issues. She called for coordinated efforts among authorities to ensure the production of safe milk and meat. The seminar featured a welcome speech by FLJF's general secretary Jahidur Rahman and a keynote presentation by its organizing secretary M Bayejid Munshi. Farida highlighted the need for local dairy farmers to focus on grazing land rather than relying on animal feed due to lesser dependency on domestic cow's milk compared to foreign species. She underscored the importance of strong coordination with the agriculture department to curb indiscriminate herbicide use that destroys animal grazing lands. To address milk production shortages, Farida called for an integrated plan by small dairy farmers and the concerned ministry. The seminar, chaired by FLJF president MA Jalil Munna Raihan, also included speeches from Acting Fisheries and Livestock Secretary ATM Mostafa Kamal, Director General of the Department of Livestock Servi ces Dr. M Reazul Huq, and LDDP's project director Dr. M A Maleque.
