Sender:
"Moderated conference on small farms and food security (October
2016)" < [log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 11 Oct 2016 12:46:51 +0000
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I am Morshed Alam, President of Bangladesh Animal Agriculture Society (BAAS). Personally, I had my graduation in Agricultural Science and involved in various organizations dealing in agriculture, especially livestock and poultry. The associations I worked for are World Poultry Science Association Bangladesh Branch (WPSA-BB) as Vice-President; Animal Health Companies Association of Bangladesh (AHCAB) as founder Secretary General; Consultant for International Development and Research Centre (IDRC), Canada.
Small farmers are the driving force of the rural economy. The growing population of Bangladesh is affecting the size of farms and the average farm size is reducing and the scope of modern cultivation system narrowing. It is also affecting the deforestation and the ecosystem. Shifting of rural people to urban areas due to more job scope at urban areas is a big concern to the policy makers.
Two most imporant areas to overcome these are - crop diversification and livestock farming. Till now the cropping system is centred on cereals rather than others like horticultural crops and vegetables. To feed the ever growing population people will need more food, not to fill the stomach only but also to provide quality nutrition, especially the kids and women. Shift of a portion of the whole land occupied by the household to vegetables and livestock will add value to their livelihood to attract them to stay in the rural area rather than shifting to urban areas. Poultry is a very special farming to utilize per unit of land efficiently, less carbon footprint on earth, more women can be engaged in the scavenging and semi scavenging farming. It is also a source of daily nutritious food for the household. Also cultivation of vegetables will add value to their income and nutrition. Small dairy and cattle farming will utilize the uncultivable lands by growing forage. About 2.5 million cattle and equal number of goats are slaughtered in 7 days during the holy occasion Eid Ul Azha of 85% muslim community of Bangladesh and these come from small farmers who rear 2-10 cows per farm throughout the year for that occasion. Black Bengal Goat is a famous goat breed of Bangladesh which can't grow in large scale due to peste des petits ruminants (PPR) disease and the only alternative is small farming of average 2-5 goats per farm.
Bangladesh is a densely populated developing country and small farms are the best choice for the policy makers to face the poverty alleviation and malnutrition of the people.
Md. Morshed Alam
President, Bangladesh Animal Agriculture Society (BAAS)
House 328, Road 22, Ground Floor
Mohakhali DOHS,
Dhaka 1206
Bangladesh
Cell # +88 01713075990
email: morshed.president (at) baas.com.bd
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