2024-07-03 22:18:30
The country’s livestock sector, especially poultry and cattle, is vulnerable to high temperatures, which is a cause of concern for the sector. Cement sheet can play a big role in reducing this concern. As the sheets have 6 layers, they control the temperature inside the shed up to 12 degrees Celsius during the extreme heat, keeping the environment inside the shed relatively cool. This reduces the death of heat stroke in chickens and cattle, claimed by the industry.
They claim that if cement sheets are used in livestock farms, production can be increased by more than 12,000 crore rupees annually in the country. Besides, the use of this sheet will reduce the production cost on the one hand and on the other hand the consumers will be able to eat eggs, milk and meat at a lower price.
They gave this information at a workshop titled ‘Green construction: How cement sheets are transforming Bangladesh’s agricultural economy’ organized by the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) in the capital on Monday (July 1).
ERF and Bangladesh Cement Sheet Manufacturing Association jointly organized the workshop said the president of the association. Musaddiq Hossain and Wise R Hossain, Deputy Managing Director of Anwar Group, a large entrepreneur in the cement sheet industry, and many others.
Under the chairmanship of ERF president Mohammad Refayet Ullah Mirdha and general secretary Abul Kashem, the main article was presented by the executive director of the Agricultural Research Foundation. Nathu Ram Sarkar.
Wise R. Hossain said in his speech that there has been a silent revolution in the use of cement sheets in the production of livestock and poultry in the whole world including Bangladesh. The use of cement sheets in the country has increased the production of eggs, milk and meat by about 9 percent. Cement sheet not only protects fish and livestock from diseases but also reduces mortality by about 10 percent.
Musaddiq Hossain said Bangladesh is vulnerable to high temperatures for various reasons, which is a cause of concern for the livestock and agriculture sectors. Cement sheet can play a big role in reducing this concern. As the sheets are 6 layers, they control the temperature inside the shed up to 12 degrees Celsius during the extreme heat, keeping the environment inside the shed relatively cool. which reduces death from heat stroke in chickens and cattle.
He said the use of this sheet reduces farm construction costs by up to 30 percent. Which helps in reducing the cost of production.
The keynote paper, highlighting various research findings at the workshop, states that cement sheet is a versatile and sustainable building material system that is being used in various construction projects worldwide. The use of cement sheet instead of corrugated iron is increasing day by day in the construction of residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural sector infrastructure in Bangladesh like in different countries due to various advantages including environment-friendly, sustainable construction, cost-effective, heat and fire resistant.
The article also states that studies show excess heat can reduce feed intake by up to 25 percent in cattle and poultry, resulting in reduced production. Building sheds made of cement sheets reduces heat by about 6-degrees Celsius, increasing livestock and poultry feed intake. Which helps to reduce the death rate in heat stock in cattle and poultry sector and increase the production of egg, milk, meat.
There are currently a total of 1.25 lakh poultry farms in the country out of which 35 percent shed sheds are made of cement sheets. This has increased the annual production of eggs by about 11 percent or 257 million pieces of eggs. If cement sheets can be used in 100% of farms, there will be additional production of about 700 crore eggs per year, the market value of which is about Tk 8400 crore.
Besides, there are about 4.25 lakh cattle (dairy and fattening) commercial farms in the country. Apart from this, the production of meat in the country including other domesticated cattle is 87.10 lakh tonnes annually.
At present, about 19 percent sheds of dairy and animal fattening farms are made of cement sheets, if 100 percent of the farms can be made of cement sheets, then the annual production of meat in the country will increase by about 6 lakh tons with a market value of about Tk 3,900 crore.
According to the association’s data, around Tk 1000 crore has been invested in the cement sheet sector in Bangladesh so far. At present, 5 cement sheet manufacturing companies in the country have an annual production capacity of about 3.62 lakh metric tons. Among which Anwar Cement Sheet Ltd. Majority is produced and marketed.
At the end of the workshop, the leaders of the association answered various questions of the journalists.
ERF Joint Secretary Mizanur Rahman, Finance Editor Rahim Sheikh, Anwar Group Senior General Manager (Marketing) Humayun Farid, Anwar Group Senior Manager (Media & Corporate Affairs) Suman Saha and many others were present in the workshop.