Sustainable extension of buffalo farming in Bangladesh: Constraints and recommendations

<title>Abstract</title> <p>Bangladesh is the largest delta in the world and is highly vulnerable to climate change. Water buffalo is one of the most promising livestock species in Bangladesh, due to its ability to adapt to adverse climatic conditions. However, buffalo farming in Bangladesh faces numerous constraints that hinder its growth and sustainable extension. For the first time, the constraints of water buffalo rearing in Bangladesh have been studied systematically. This cross-sectional study: a) compares constraints across different farming systems and regions, b) describes underlying blocking mechanisms, and c) provides recommendations. Data from 170 buffalo farms from seven buffalo concentrated districts of coastal and river basin areas of Bangladesh was collected. High price of concentrate feed, preference for natural service over AI, and remote veterinary facilities were the top-most important constraints perceived by the farmers. Free-ranging systems encountered significantly higher constraints in terms of feeding (P &lt; 0.01) and breeding (P &lt; 0.01). The coastal districts were found to be more suitable for buffalo farming, but also more prone to face challenges compared to the river basin areas (P &lt; 0.05). Main blocking mechanisms were scarcity of resources, technical knowledge gaps, climatic changes, land use policy, economic constraints, and infrastructure. This study underscores the need for multilevel interventions comprising not only the farm level but also chain and government levels. Farmers can combine their efforts for more efficient land use and feed production. Also, the coastal area is used for numerous purposes. Besides buffalo farming, the islands serve as a shelter for Rohingya and for the military. Further development of buffalo production in the coastal region, therefore, requires a political choice. We recommend utilizing existing resources and infrastructure to mitigate the challenges, along with government and private initiatives for capacity building of the buffalo farming through training and extension services.</p>