Bank of America correspondent:
During the day-long training held at the Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), instructions were given on various days to improve the skills of small and medium farmers in Mymensingh region in raising broilers.
The training was organized by the Department of Poultry Science, BKU, in collaboration with Manu Farms and funded by the Agricultural Research Foundation, on Tuesday (February 11) at 10 am at the Faculty Conference Hall of the Faculty of Animal Husbandry. Subash Chandra Das, Project Director of the relevant project and Professor of the Department of Poultry Science, was present as the coordinator of the training.
The event was presided over by Professor Dr. Bapan Dey, Head of the Department of Poultry Science, and was attended by the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Professor Dr. Md. Ruhul Amin. The special guests were Dr. Md. Hammadur Rahman, Director of the Research Center (BAURES) of the Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mohammad Nazrul Islam, Vice President and Branch Manager of Mutual Trust Bank PLC, Mymensingh Branch, and Muhammad Shaheen, Founder and CEO of Manu Farms. UGC Professor Dr. Sachchidananda Das Chowdhury was present as the guest of honor. About 30 farmers from the Mymensingh region, teachers of the Department of Poultry Science, and postgraduate students were also present at the event.
Chief guest Professor Dr. Md. Ruhul Amin said, "Earlier, it took about a year to produce a chicken weighing one kilogram. Now, a chicken weighs more than one and a half kilograms in just 30 days. Moreover, now such layer breeds have been developed that lay more than 3,200 eggs a year. Poultry scientists have made an important contribution behind this development."
In his speech as the chief guest, he further said, "Farmers are directly involved in food production. As long as there are people on earth, food production will have to continue." Currently, broiler grandparent stock and parent stock have to be imported from abroad to our country. Foreign companies never disclose the breeding method used to produce them. This is mainly why we are dependent on them.
Training Coordinator Professor Subash Chandra Das said, "Bakrubi Poultry Farm has been raising broilers for more than three decades without the use of any antibiotics or other additives. Moreover, it has been producing very beautiful broilers."
He further said, "The broiler mortality rate in the way we raise broilers is only 1 percent." In addition, in order to help farmers gain practical experience, broiler production was demonstrated to farmers at Bakri's poultry farm after the training session.
Suman Chakraborty
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh
