The SAARC regional expert consultation meeting on “Feeding and Healthcare of Livestock During Natural Calamities” was held on 1st and 2nd December, 2020 on virtual platform. The meeting was organized by the SAARC Agriculture Centre as need based programme under livestock division. The programme was conceptualized, coordinated and executed by Dr. Ashis Kumar Samanta, Senior Programme Specialist – Livestock, SAARC Agriculture Centre, Dhaka.The primary objectives of the expert consultation meeting include: (i) Review and documentation on impact of natural disaster on livestock particularly its primary producers in the SAARC region, (ii) Existing policy to combat the adverse effects of natural calamities on livestock sector among Member States, and (iii) Research and strategies needed to ensure livelihood and food security of livestock farmers in the event of natural disaster in South Asia. The meeting was actively participated by the focal persons of seven SAARC Member States, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in addition to international experts from India and Bangladesh.
Dr. Miah Sayeed Hassan, Director, SAARC Agriculture Centre welcomed the participants of the meeting and highlighted the recent activities of the Centre. This was followed by the address of Dr. Nathu Ram Sarker, the Director General, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar and “Special Guest” of inaugural ceremony. He highlighted the importance of livestock on food and livelihood security in South Asia and urged the participants for fruitful discussion on the subject to safeguard the sector from the vagaries of natural calamities. Dr. S.M. Bokhtiar, the Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council and the “Special Guest” of inaugural session opined that livestock and crop are complementary to each other and concerns of both sectors need to be addressed with appropriate scientific interventions. He also remarked that the South Asia has rich history for livestock husbandry and the region is the habitat of world’s best germplasms for different livestock species including cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat and poultry. Therefore, utmost care needs to be taken to prevent extinction of those breeds of livestock by natural calamities and wished for the “Rainbow of Development” for regional growth and prosperity. Mr. Shah Md. Imdadul Haque, the Additional Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh graced the occasion as the “Chief Guest” and conveyed his greetings to SAARC Agriculture Centre for undertaking multi-pronged activities on different sectors including livestock. He appreciated the efforts of SAARC Agriculture Centre for initiating the activity focusing on “Improvement of native germplasm of livestock” through distribution of frozen semen of pedigreed buffalo bull (Murrah and Nilli Ravi). He opined that livestock is one of the important pillars of South Asian rural economy and needs to be protected from the adverse effects of natural calamities through evidence-based technologies. Finally, he wished for regional action plan for livestock to safeguard it from natural calamities.
During the two days expert consultation meeting, national focal experts shared their country status on livestock, its significance over national GDP and livelihood, natural calamities encountered, feeding strategies and healthcare options during and after natural calamities, proven technologies, existing policy and future action plan. International expert, Mr. RaihanulHaque Khan, the country lead of Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES), Dhaka, Bangladesh delivered lecture on “Climate services to protect livestock from natural calamities”. Subject matter experts, Dr. A.K. Pattanaik, Principal Scientist of ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute and Dr. A.K.M. Ahsan Kabir, Professor of Bangladesh Agricultural University delivered talk on “Feeding strategies during drought” and “Feeding strategies during flood”, respectively.This was followed by formulation of strategies and recommendations on the subject. The recommendations emanated from the consultation meeting were as follows:
- Contingency plan for livestock during natural calamities by setting up the “SAARC Feed Bank” for emergency relief;
- Promotion and propagation of climate resilient (drought tolerant/ salt tolerant/ water logged) fodder varieties and its sharing among SAARC Member States;
- Sharing of climate resilient livestock breed;
- Establishment of animal relief camps in calamity prone areas;
- Emergency disaster drills for preparing communities to protect animals and to develop awareness among livestock farmers;
- Development of multi-country project on livestock care and management during natural calamities;
- Sharing of evidenced based technologies among Member States to protect livestock from the natural calamities; and
- Sharing of information on mitigation strategies against natural calamities.
The particular expert consultation meeting reiterated their commitment to safeguard livestock from natural calamities as it is linked with food and livelihood security of people belonging to the poor and marginal class of people of South Asia. Finally, Dr. Miah Sayeed Hassan, the Director of the Centre expressed sincere thanks to the focal experts of seven Member States, international experts, senior programme specialists, participants and stuffs of SAC for their active participation towards successful conduction of the meeting and wish for vibrant SAARC Agricultural Centre in South Asia.
