Bangladesh News

The country’s livestock sector suffered a loss of around Tk 300 crore in the recent cyclone Sidr.

According to the Department of Livestock Services, over one lakh cattle and 21.5 lakh poultry birds were killed in the four severely affected districts.

The department estimated that infrastructures of over 800 cattle farms and 2,000 poultry farms were destroyed in the November 15 cyclone.

Besides, over 45 lakh cattle and 2.7 crore poultry birds were affected in the devastating cyclone in 12 south and southwestern districts. And a large number of cattle and poultry are feared to have died due to various post-cyclone infectious diseases.

When contacted, Director General of the department Sunil Chandra Ghosh said a huge number of cattle and poultry birds have been attacked with different diseases as the most affected areas run short of drinking water, fodder and poultry feed

The department has supplied adequate quantities of vaccines in the 12 districts for distribution of cost. It also sent cattle and poultry feed, and four special veterinary teams for treatment of injured cattle, he said.

President of World Poultry Science Association (WPSA) Moshiur Rahman said 14 lakh broilers and layer poultry birds were affected in the four severely hit districts. About 11,00 poultry farms in 12 districts were damaged partially in the cyclone.

On the post-flood situation, Moshiur said the affected farmers are now struggling for their survival as well as that of their livestock. Power supply in many areas is yet to be resumed, worsening the situation.

Besides, farmers now find too small number of buyers for their livestock products. And for this they are unable to manage funds for cattle and poultry feed, he added.

Asked about rehabilitation programme, WPSA General Secretary MA Saleque said the association has allocated Tk 5 lakh for distribution of poultry feed among farmers.

The association will also supply day one chicken, poultry feed and poultry instruments free of cost to farmers whose farms and poultry were washed away by the cyclone.

Director of livestock department Santi Ranjan Das said the government has taken several short-term, medium-term and long-term measures for this sector.

Giving details, he said the department is distributing vaccines, animal and poultry feed in cyclone affected districts as part of short-term measures. As medium-term measures, the government will distribute cattle and poultry birds free of cost among farmers who lost their farms.

As part of long-term measures, the livestock department will develop infrastructures for cattle and poultry farms for rehabilitation of many of the farmers.