Dhaka: Vowing to ensure nutrition for all by speeding up the development of dairy industry, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday called upon the private entrepreneurs to supplement the government efforts to achieve the goal, reports BSS.

The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating a programme for loan distribution at five percent interest to make Bangladesh self-reliant in milk production at Krishibid Institution, Bangladesh auditorium at Farmgate in Dhaka in the morning.

The Department of Livestock under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock arranged the function with Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Md Maksudul Hasan Khan in the chair.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Sayedul Haque, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Narayan Chandra Chanda and Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman were present as the special guests, while Bank and Financial Institution Secretary Dr M Aslam Alam delivered the welcome address.

Two beneficiaries of the programme—one from Badarganj of Rangpur another from Tungipara of Gopalganj—also spoke at the function.

At the function, the Premier handed over chequers for loan among 13 selected beneficiaries of the scheme.

Noting that milk is a fast perishable product, Sheikh Hasina put emphasis on producing new products from milk through its diversification as well as their proper preservation and processing to flourish dairy industry.

The Premier said the small farmers are mainly involved in producing milk in the country. ‘Commercial dairy farms were not established in large scale and for this, there is no alternative to increasing milk production by utilising the labour of small farmers and developing livestock species,’ she said.

Artificial insemination, she said, is the main strategy or technology for developing these species.

Mentioning that high mortality rate of cross species of calves is the main barrier to artificial insemination, Sheikh Hasina directed the Animal Resources Department to give attention to reduce the death.