Dhaka: Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Mohammad Sayedul Huq on Sunday said the country produced 58 lakh 62 thousand tonnes of meat against the demand of 69 lakh 51 thousand tonnes in the financial year 2014-15.

The minister said the deficit in meat production in the same fiscal year was 10 lakh 89 thousand tonnes.

Sayedul made the assertion while replying to a question of a treasury bench member Didarul Alam in Parliament.

The minister said the government under the Beef Cattle Development Project has been carrying out artificial breeding activities with high yielding Bahama semen for increasing the meat production.

Besides, several projects have been taken to expand cow-fattening activities, produce more goats, lambs, ducks and chicken, he said.

The minister said the government has also undertaken measures for developing entrepreneurship in the private sector for increasing production of poultry birds.

Around 20 lakh of cattle were brought under fattening projects to fulfill the meat demand of the country in the financial year of 2014-5, Sayedul added.