Farida calls for subsidies on fisheries and livestock
Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhtar today strongly advocated for subsidies on the fisheries and livestock sectors, noting that while agriculture receives subsidies, its vital sub-sectors-- fisheries and livestock-- do not. "Domestic livestock is crucial, not involved merely in production but also intrinsically linked with rural food demand, preservation facilities, women's employment, and agricultural heritage," she said while speaking at an international conference at the CIRDAP auditorium in the city.
The Bangladesh Agricultural Journalists Forum (BAJF) organised the four-day international conference and workshop titled "Political Commitment in Agriculture and Food". Farida Akhtar cautioned policymakers against judging poor people based on the income of the rich. "When the average consumption capacity of the top few percent of people is highlighted, the actual eating habits and nutrition deficit of the poor are masked. This flawed data leads to misconceptions in policy-making, meaning the fundamental nutritional needs of the poor population remain unknown," she explained.
Highlighting the disparity, she mentioned the widely quoted figure of 137 eggs consumed per capita annually, but stressed that this average obscures the actual consumption disparity between the rich and the poor, making the true consumption reality of the impoverished invisible. While acknowledging the necessity of industrialization in the sector, Farida Akhtar pointed out that even as the fisheries and livestock sector is increasingly viewed as an industry, 70 to 80 percent of production is still conducted by common rural people.
She mandated that the protection of indigenous species must be given the highest priority. The adviser issued a strict warning to ensure that the fundamental characteristics of native breeds are not lost during the process of creating hybrid varieties. Regarding rural food diversity, she noted that production districts often struggle to secure their own local native fish. "For example, despite Sunamganj being known for the excellent taste of its native fish, many residents are now forced to consume Pangas from aquaculture," she added. The Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhtar also urged journalists to highlight these real-world facts.
