Nutrition council, ACDI/VOCA sign MoU

Bangladeshis drink less milk than they need due to production shortages and high prices, and Bangladesh National Nutrition Council (BNNC) Office has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Washington-based non-profit ACDI/VOCA to improve people’s nutrition situation.

BNNC Director General Dr Hasan Shahriar Kabir and ACDI/VOCA Bangladesh Country Representative and Feed the Future Bangladesh Livestock and Nutrition Activity Chief of Party Muhammad Nurul Amin Siddiquee signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations at the BNNC office in the capital on Monday.

Officials told the signing ceremony the objective of the MoU is to improve people’s nutrition status by increasing the production, marketing, and regular consumption of milk, milk products, and meat.

The MoU will facilitate multi-sectoral nutrition planning as well as the implementation and dissemination of nutrition messages through health workers in the selected districts and upazilas, they said.

According to the World Health Organisation, a person needs to drink 250ml milk every day to increase immunity. But the Department of Livestock Services data shows Bangladeshis consume less than 160ml milk per day on average, with the poor consumption attributed to production shortages and high prices.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) undertook a project titled “Feed the Future Bangladesh Livestock and Nutrition Activity” in October 2021. The project aims to increase livestock production and marketability of such products at the national and sub-national levels. ACDI/VOCA is implementing the project.

The project will also increase household consumption of safe and diversified livestock products by providing technical assistance to co-create solutions with private and public sector actors.

Mohammad Kamruzzaman, deputy chief of party and nutrition team lead, Feed the Future Bangladesh Livestock and Nutrition Activity, told Monday’s programme the project has three main objectives – improving nutrition by increasing the supply of animal meat, increasing farmers’ income, and empowering women.

The purpose of signing the MoU with BNNC is that they will develop a guideline on nutrition under the project so that nutrition can be assured for one million families and also the people of the country through this group, said Kamruzzaman.

There will be measures to increase awareness among the people in this regard, he added.

The five-year Feed the Future Bangladesh Livestock and Nutrition Activity project will be divided into two groups – zone of influence and zone of resilience – in 23 districts. Under it, one million cattle farmer families will be provided with technical and marketing assistance, training, and livestock feed assistance. This will increase sustainable livestock production, marketability, and product utilisation along with improving nutrition and raising household income.

Since the project’s beginning, contracts have been signed with 9 private companies, including Pran, Aarong, and Tamim Agro Industries. Through them, farmers have started receiving training in cattle health and breeding as well as vaccination in 23 districts of Dhaka, Barishal, Khulna, and Chattogram.

The cost of the USAID-funded project is estimated at $20.5 million. Officials expect the crossbred cattle population will increase by 225 per cent and 70 per cent of households will be able to have regular milk and meat once the project is completed. Besides, a new $21 million market for milk and meat will be created in the country.