USDA introduces Bangladesh Climate Smart Livestock project

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) of the US Embassy in Bangladesh has launched its new Bangladesh Climate Smart Livestock project to enhance efficiency, promote climate resilience and foster sustainable innovations in the livestock sector.

USDA, through the Food for Progress Program, is investing over $34 million in this project over five years and will work closely with the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute to achieve sustainable results, said in a press release of Public Affairs Section of Embassy of the United States of America, Bangladesh, today.

Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change, the release added.

The United States is committed to supporting Bangladesh to implement climate-smart agricultural practices to help Bangladesh adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change.

This innovative new project will significantly boost livestock productivity, improve market access and implement climate-smart practices across 16 targeted districts, ultimately benefiting over 250,000 livestock farmers.

The project will introduce advanced production technologies, improve animal health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with Bangladesh’s national climate goals.

By linking producers to end buyers and increasing access to investment capital, the project aims to grow livestock sales by $940 million over its five-year period.

“We are excited to launch this innovative project. This project will simultaneously help small holder livestock producers increase production and improve their livelihoods, while also reducing methane emissions,” said USDA Agricultural Attache Sarah Gilleski.

This will show that climate change adaptation and mitigation do not need to come at a cost to agricultural production, she added.

The USDA Climate Smart Livestock project is implemented by ACDI/VOCA, the release said. (BSS)