IT is said that necessity is the mother of invention. This proverb is reflected now in the dairy and cattle-fattening sector in Bangladesh. Media report says, restriction on bringing cattle from India has become a boon for Bangladesh as many youths have set up cattle farms to boost local meat and milk production, ushering in new hopes for reducing dependence on cattle supply from outside. Compared to the past Bangladesh is now in a better position to grow more cattle locally and supply in the market ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha. As per speculation by local traders supply of locally fattened cattle may rise to 44 lakhs during this Eid festival, which will meet up to 80 percent demand. Last year local supply was around 41 lakhs.
The significant aspect is that our youths have taken up cattle farming to steadily turn the crisis into an opportunity to create local self-reliance. Most of the new cattle farmers are young educated people who have taken up cattle farming as commercial activities without crowding the job market. They are serious and hard working. They have proved that they are capable to go ahead combating many odds. They have already shown that if they get the minimum backing they can yield excellent result, if not miracle. Not only in cattle farming, in the field of fishery, horticulture, vegetable production, seasonal fruit plantation and such other small businesses our youths are doing so well that we should feel proud of them.
Cattle farming and such other agri-based rural economic activities are making remarkable stride at a time when the country’s employment market is not producing enough jobs and most of our youths seeking jobs abroad are losing everything to manpower traffickers. This is a time Bangladesh manpower abroad are also facing employment crisis when remittance from Middle East countries has sharply decreased. We believe that our rural economy has the best growth potentials to engage younger people in self-earning enterprises. Cattle farming, expansion of fisheries and poultry sector can make the nation self-reliant and overcome supply shortage of milk, meat and protein. The breakthrough in cattle farming along with many other rural sectors has proved our youths can do it without looking for jobs abroad. As most of them come from poorer families, it also means a big cut to the country’s poverty level.
It was not very distant past that we were heavily dependent on supply of Indian sacrificial cattle during Eid-ul-Azha. The situation has changed almost overnight. In our view, our public and private sectors must give all incentives to our youths including cash incentives and low cost loans to help rural economy to grow in all possible ways.
