History

The Integrated Dairy Research Network (IDRN) was established on 1st July, 2018 as a part of the project outcome of Ministry of Education (MoE) with initial development by BARC-NATP CRG-II project (Project ID: 557). This was established with the recommendation from the national panel of expert meeting that was held in October 21, 2017 in Rural Development Academy in Bogura. The network was the major outcome of the MOE funded project (Project reference: 490/2018).  

Different networks are available in the world which are working in Agricultural sector and some are working specifically on dairy to make the dairy in line of development among the globe. International Farm Comparison Network (IFCN) is working from 1996 as a dairy network that was started as a part of PhD of Torsten Hemme with research question “How to create a better understanding of milk production world-wide?”-in 1994. Now-a-days IFCN is working with 110 countries, 120 companies and 10 institutions. 

Though Bangladesh dairy sector is facing lots of challenges, it is a key momentum in recent era of Bangladesh Livestock sector development. Dr. Mohammad Mohi Uddin has started the Integrated Dairy Research Network (IDRN) with the aim “Connecting Bangladesh Dairy with Global Dairy” for sustainable dairy sector development in Bangladesh by comparing the Bangladesh dairy sector with Global dairy sector. This network was the result of the idea came from Dr. Mohammad Mohi Uddin, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Animal Nutrition, who gained substantial networking knowledge.

The main motivation behind starting this network is to establish a knowledge creation platform for Bangladesh dairy sector development that will be a think tool for developing a dairy database that will develop a standard method and harmonize output in a comparable manner. IDRN is integrating people from all discipline that can exchange and share views and can produce output together by making friendship, inspiration and motivation. 

The importance of IDRN network is aiming at keeping key focus to the national economic development that will enable transformation of the dairy farming toward commercial and business farming. A holistic knowledge is required to achieve through application of interdisciplinary research and IDRN has formally started its activities from 8th December, 2018 towards Bangladesh dairy sector development in a sustainable manner.