Ensuring Animal Health for Food Security and Nutrition in Bangladesh

Strategic Insights -

Bangladeshi Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter underscored the importance of protecting animal health to ensure the nation's nutrition and food security. Speaking at the 'Dean's Award and Orientation 2024' at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, she highlighted that diseases affecting livestock and poultry pose a significant threat to animal resources and food security. The Adviser emphasized that animal health is crucial, citing the 'One Health' concept, which establishes that ensuring animal health is equivalent to ensuring public health.

Key Takeaways:

  • Animal health is essential for ensuring the nation's nutrition and food security, according to Adviser Farida Akhter.
  • Diseases affecting livestock and poultry not only threaten animal resources but also put food security at risk, as consuming meat from diseased animals can spread infections to humans.
  • The 'One Health' concept establishes that ensuring animal health is equivalent to ensuring public health.
  • Increasing participation of female veterinarians is crucial, especially in rural areas where women are primarily responsible for livestock rearing.
  • Merging veterinary and animal science is being considered, as these two branches are complementary disciplines.
  • The government is making efforts to control infectious diseases like foot-and-mouth disease, with the goal of paving the way for beef exports.
  • Special guests at the event included leading figures in the sector, such as Prof. Dr. Md. Abdul Latif, Vice-Chancellor of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, and Dr. Shakila Faruque, Director General of Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute.

Statistics:

  • No specific statistics were mentioned in the article.
  • According to the article, the government is making efforts to control infectious diseases like foot-and-mouth disease, which could potentially impact the beef export industry.

Sources:

  • The event was organized by the Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University.
  • The sources of information are notes from the speech by Adviser Farida Akhter at the 'Dean's Award and Orientation 2024' event.