Bangladesh’s government has taken a policy decision to offer a 20 per cent rebate on electricity bills for farmers and hatchery owners in the fisheries and livestock sector, aiming to reduce production costs and boost output.
To implement the rebate, the finance division has approved a subsidy allocation of Tk1 billion, according to an official statement issued on Monday by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.
The ministry said the decision is intended to lower operating costs for marginal fish farms and hatcheries, as well as cattle and poultry farms, and is expected to provide significant relief to farmers and entrepreneurs struggling with high energy expenses.
Under the government’s existing power rebate policy, a 20 per cent electricity rebate is currently extended to 16 sectors to promote agricultural production, encourage agricultural exports and support the growth of agro-based industries. As part of this framework, four key sub-sectors under fisheries and livestock have now been brought under the rebate facility.
The subsidised sectors include animal and poultry feed manufacturing, fish feed production, the poultry industry and dairy processing. The dairy processing category covers a wide range of products, including pasteurised milk, powdered milk, ice cream, condensed milk, confectionery, cheese, ghee, butter, chocolate and yoghurt.
Officials and industry stakeholders said the initiative, once implemented, would significantly reduce production costs in the fisheries and livestock sector, stimulate industrial investment and help Bangladesh move closer to self-sufficiency in the production of safe and high-quality animal protein.