RAJSHAHI, Oct 4, 2018 (BSS)- Experts have urged the rural people to start
sheep farming commercially using modern methods and technology to meet
nutritional demand and produce valuable wool to help develop wool-based
textile in the country.
They said wide-ranging promotion of commercial sheep farming can contribute
to the increase of woolen fiber production, improving rural livelihood and
producing more meat and milk to meet the country’s nutritional demand.
The speakers came up with the observation at a daylong discussion titled,
‘Validation of Good Practices of On-farm Lamb Production System’ at Paba
Upazila Parishad conference hall in the district yesterday.
The Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Rajshahi University
organised the discussion with financial support from Krishi Goveshona
Foundation.
Chaired by Chairman of the department Prof SM Kamruzzaman, the meeting was
addressed, among others, by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Zahid Newaj, Prof Jalal
Uddin Sarder of the department and its Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Dr
Hemayetul Islam, researcher Dr Akhtarul Islam and Upazila Livestock Officer
Ismail Hossain.
Around 30 farmers from different villages took part in the meeting.
Prof Jalal Sarder said rapid economic growth of the region could be achieved
through proper use and development of livestock resources.
He said the issue of improvement and conservation of native sheep in
society-based and commercial farms should be given priority for poverty
reduction and creating employment opportunities.
Sardar said the scientists of Department of Livestock Services and the
Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) have already developed and
produced different types of woolen fabrics and bed-sheet and suiting by using
30 percent sheep wool, 30 percent jute and 40 percent cotton.
“Demand for these products is huge in local market and the same could be
met by commercial sheep farming,” he said.
Currently, Bangladesh is producing about 3,000 tonnes of wool from 34 lakh
sheep that are being used in producing blanket, shawl, bed-sheet and some
other winter clothing.