After spending 310 million taka on importing and training for Brahma cattle, the breed remains effectively banned in Bangladesh. Despite the significant investment, legal complications prevent the expansion of Brahma cattle farming in the country.
The Livestock Department of Bangladesh implemented a project titled “Beef Cattle Development” in July 2013, which concluded in June 2018. The project aimed to increase meat production and meet the country’s demand for animal protein through scientific crossbreeding of Brahma cattle. The Planning Ministry’s Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) acknowledged the necessity of Brahma cattle for meat production in their project evaluation report.
Despite the project’s positive outcomes, the import and rearing of Brahma cattle face legal hurdles. The Livestock Department has never granted permission for commercial import or breeding of Brahma cattle. There are no clear directives in the law regarding the prohibition of Brahma cattle rearing in the country. The 2016 revised policy on artificial insemination in the private sector permitted experimental breeding of Brahma cattle but did not address commercial breeding or semen import.
Project Implementation and Expenditures
During the project, Brahma cattle were raised in 48 districts. The project incurred substantial expenses:
- Approximately 50 million taka was spent to import 60,000 units of Brahma semen from the USA.
- 150 Brahma calves were purchased for 11.6 million taka.
- 10,400 farmers and 390 field officers received training on Brahma cattle rearing, costing 8.9 million taka.
- Artificial insemination equipment was bought for the Central Cattle Breeding and Dairy Farm in Savar, costing 59.8 million taka.
- Other expenses included 15 million taka for cattle feed, 10 million taka for medicines and vaccines, and 18.9 million taka for vehicles and equipment.
- Infrastructure development at the Savar farm cost 71.4 million taka.
- Salaries and allowances for project staff amounted to over 11.4 million taka.
Despite the project’s success in familiarizing farmers with Brahma cattle, the Livestock Department withdrew from further expansion. Two factions emerged within the department: one supporting the expansion for meat production, and another opposing it, fearing it would hinder milk production. Consequently, no new decisions regarding Brahma cattle were made after the project ended, and the existing legal framework continues to pose challenges.
Professor A.K. Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan from the Animal Breeding and Genetics Department of Bangladesh Agricultural University suggests forming a specialist committee to evaluate the situation comprehensively. He believes that the government or the relevant department should take the initiative to implement the committee’s recommendations.
With the ban on Brahma cattle, beef prices have soared beyond the reach of ordinary people. The Department of Agricultural Marketing reported that the average price of beef in Dhaka is now 750 to 800 taka per kilogram, compared to 275 taka in 2014. The price of pasteurized milk has also increased significantly, from 62 taka per liter in 2014 to 90-95 taka now.
The World Health Organization recommends a daily intake of 250 grams of milk and dairy products, but according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, the average per capita consumption is only 34 grams. Bangladesh lags in both milk and meat consumption, raising concerns about production statistics from the Livestock Department.
The Brahma cattle project highlights the need for a well-considered approach to livestock development in Bangladesh. A specialist committee’s recommendations could pave the way for effective policies that balance meat and milk production, ensuring nutritional security for the population.
