In the upcoming budget, stakeholders in the livestock and fisheries sectors in Bangladesh are urging the government to increase subsidies and introduce easier access to low-interest loans. Agricultural economists are supporting the demand, arguing that it’s time to shift some focus away from the crop sector and invest more in animal and fish resources. They also called for resolving customs complications in importing raw materials used in animal feed to help lower the prices of fish and meat.

Bangladesh has made notable progress in protein production, ranking second globally in freshwater fish harvesting and third in poultry production in South Asia. Over the last decade, livestock production has increased by over 142%. Despite this growth, the sector continues to receive minimal budget allocation, subsidies, and loan access compared to crops—raising production costs and impacting consumer prices. Farmers complain about high feed and medicine prices, making it difficult to sustain their operations.

Feed producers say they face bureaucratic delays in sourcing local raw materials and heavy import duties, both of which affect market pricing. According to the Feed Industry Association of Bangladesh, reducing import duties and offering low-interest loans to farmers is essential to ensure affordable prices of meat, eggs, milk, and fish for the general public.

Although the size of the national budget has grown, agriculture’s share has averaged just 5.5% of the total over the past five fiscal years, with the fisheries and livestock subsector receiving only a token allocation. Agricultural experts are now pushing for increased support for this vital area. They argue that, just like the Ministry of Agriculture receives dedicated subsidies, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock should be treated similarly, especially since feed and other inputs are becoming increasingly expensive.

Sources from the Finance Ministry indicate that the upcoming budget may allocate Tk 48,000 crore for five agriculture-related ministries, including Tk 18,000 crore in subsidies.