Bangladesh eyes higher egg production for exports: Tuku

Fisheries and Livestock State Minister Sultan Salauddin Tuku has called for increasing egg production to meet domestic demand and develop export capacity, stressing the need for quality products, lower production costs and coordinated efforts to strengthen the poultry sector.

“This year, we exported hatching eggs to Nigeria for the first time. This is a very positive development for the country. If we can produce quality products, we will be able to meet domestic demand and export eggs as well,” he said.

The state minister was speaking as the chief guest at a discussion marking World Egg Day at the Cotton Development Board conference room in Dhaka on Tuesday.

This year’s theme was “Protein That Powers and Protects”.

Tuku said making poultry feed more affordable was essential to reducing production costs. He urged stakeholders to work together to ensure food security and called on poultry farmers not to use antibiotics in feed.

“Eggs are an affordable source of protein and a tasty, nutritious food. Eating an egg every day can be beneficial to health,” he said.

Emphasising the need to encourage young entrepreneurs in the poultry sector, Tuku said their involvement would expand economic activities at the grassroots level and strengthen the rural economy. He also highlighted the sector’s potential to empower rural women economically.

Referring to initiatives by former prime minister Khaleda Zia and current Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to distribute poultry and livestock among disadvantaged people, he said encouraging women to rear ducks and chickens at home could ensure a regular supply of eggs and help them become financially self-reliant.

The state minister also assured poultry farmers of government support in reducing electricity costs, saying the government would explore ways to bring poultry farms under solar power projects.

Director General of the Department of Livestock Services Md Shahjahan Khan chaired the programme.
Mashiur Rahman, convener of the Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council, and Md Sirajul Haque, senior vice-president of the World’s Poultry Science Association-Bangladesh branch, attended as special guests.

Additional Secretary of the Livestock Wing of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Syeda Nawara Jahan, Cotton Development Board Executive Director Rezaul Amin and Department of Livestock Services Director (Administration) Dr Md Boyezar Rahman, among others, were also present.

Earlier, a rally and a free egg distribution programme were held to mark the day. The Department of Livestock Services, the World’s Poultry Science Association-Bangladesh branch and the Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council jointly organised the events.