Dairy sector must boost productivity, cut emissions to ensure sustainability: Tuku

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku on Thursday stressed the need to boost productivity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the dairy sector to make it sustainable, profitable and climate-resilient.

To this end, he stressed the need to adopt modern technologies, ensure scientific farm management, promote proper waste utilisation and improve milk collection and preservation systems.

The state minister said this while speaking as the chief guest at the 'Annual Green Dairy Partnership Summit 2026' at Lakeshore Grand Hotel herel today. 

The summit was organised under the theme 'Advancing a Sustainable, Low-Carbon and Efficient Dairy Sector in Bangladesh'.

The state minister said the dairy sector plays an important role in the country's economy, rural livelihoods and nutritional security.

Currently, the country produces around 15.753 million metric tonnes of milk annually against the national demand of 16.279 million metric tonnes, he said.

To meet the deficit, he said, merely increasing production would not be enough. Emphasis must also be placed on improving productivity, efficient resource management, developing market system and ensuring environmentally friendly farm operations, he added.

He said around 1.5 million smallholder farming families earn regular incomes through dairy farming in the country. Rural women are making significant contributions through specialised farm management. 

Meanwhile, young people are creating new opportunities in animal feed production, artificial insemination, milk collection and agribusiness.

The state minister stressed the need to ensure access to advanced technology, training, financing and market facilities for these farmers, women and young entrepreneurs.

He said high animal feed prices, low productivity, inadequate cold-chain facilities and limitations in waste management are among the major challenges facing the dairy sector.

However, he said, it is possible to increase production while reducing environmental pollution through the production of biogas and organic fertiliser from cow dung, balanced animal feed, scientific breeding and improved farm management.

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Tuku further said the government is working to create a supportive policy environment for sustainable dairy development.

Making the Bangladesh Dairy Development Board Act, 2023 effective, ensuring milk quality and safety, and taking effective measures to prevent adulteration are part of these initiatives, he added.

The state minister called upon development partners and research institutions to work with the Department of Livestock Services and the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute on technology transfer and improving farmers' skills.

At the same time, he stressed the importance of expanding milk collection networks and strengthening partnerships with smallholder farmers by dairy processing companies.

Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh Christian Brix Møller delivered the welcome address at the event.

Director General of the Department of Livestock Services Md Shahzaman Khan and Director General of the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute Dr Shakila Faruk attended the programme as special guests.

Country Manager (Bangladesh) of Solidaridad Network Asia Selim Reza Hasan, representatives of various public and private organisations, development partners, researchers and stakeholders of the dairy industry were also present.