DHAKA, Dec 9, 2018 (BSS) – The World Bank (WB) has approved $500 million to
improve livestock and dairy production in Bangladesh in a bid to meet
country’s growing demand for egg, meat and milk and thereby improve the
nutritional intake of its citizens.
According to a WB press release, the Livestock and Dairy Development
Project will improve agricultural productivity and market access of 2 million
smallholder household farmers and small and medium-scale agro-entrepreneurs.
By stimulating growth and improving livestock production systems,
livestock farmers in Bangladesh will have better access to livestock services
and practices.
“By increasing livestock productivity, Bangladesh will be better able to
meet the food demands of its population,” said Qimiao Fan, World Bank Country
Director for Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal.
“Livestock development also has the potential to create more and better
jobs for women, youth, and the vulnerable in rural areas,” he added.
The release said the livestock sector employs 14 percent of the total
labor force, but more than 70 percent of rural households are engaged in
livestock production.
Currently 68 percent of the agricultural labor force are women and they
are mainly involved in livestock and poultry production.
“Climate change impacts on livestock production threaten to hamper the
development of livestock,” said Manievel Sene, World Bank Team Leader for the
Livestock and Dairy Development Project.
“Rural households’ livestock assets are highly exposed to risks, including
loss of livestock, associated with natural events and major disease
outbreaks. Mitigating risks by creating an enabling environment for livestock
insurance will reduce the vulnerability of smallholder farmers as well as
enhance productivity, “added the World Bank official.
The press release said production in cattle and milk, meat, and poultry
meat and eggs is not meeting consumption growth, resulting in rising
shortages: it is anticipated that by 2021, there will be annual shortages of
1.5 billion eggs, 0.5 million tonnes of meat, and more than 5.9 million
tonnes of milk.
In 2015-2016, imports of dairy reached $248.8 million. Young children,
pregnant women and new mothers are particularly vulnerable to nutritional
shortfalls.
The project aims to provide at least two million people with food safety
information through training, mobile applications, and other multimedia
tools.
The credit from the World Bank’s International Development Association,
which provides grants or zero-interest loans, has a 30-year term, including a
five-year grace period.
The World Bank was among the first development partners to support
Bangladesh following its independence. Since then the World Bank has
committed over $30 billion in grants and interest-free credits to Bangladesh.