Fisheries, Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid has said the government is working to reduce the country’s dependence on agro-product imports in phases by increasing agricultural production and improving preservation and infrastructure facilities.
“The country will gradually come out of agro-product imports by increasing farm production, enhancing preservation facilities and using updated technology,” he said, while speaking to journalists at a press briefing at his ministry’s conference room.
Rashid expressed satisfaction with the ministry’s performance during the first 180 days of the present government, highlighting progress in agricultural production, irrigation, tree plantation and farmer support programmes.
Regarding the country’s fertiliser supply, the minister said there is currently no crisis, with stocks higher than they were at the same time last year.
He said attempts to create confusion over an “artificial fertiliser crisis” were part of a conspiracy.
“At present, the country has more fertiliser in stock compared to last year,” he said.
Highlighting the government’s plans for the agriculture sector, Rashid said Farmers Cards would gradually be distributed to 3.5 lakh to 4 lakh farmers every month.
The government has already prepared a database of nearly 14 lakh farmers under a pilot project, he said.
On the government’s tree plantation programme, the minister said 24.18 lakh saplings had been planted across the country in the past six months against a target of 25 lakh.
He also said 475.61 kilometres of canals had been excavated against a target of 478.09 kilometres.
Speaking about onion production and preservation, Rashid said Bangladesh had so far not needed to import onions because of improvements in preservation facilities.
Previously, large quantities of onions would rot because of inadequate storage facilities. But improved preservation systems now allow onions to be stored for at least six months, he said.
The government plans to expand infrastructure in the coming season to preserve at least 3 lakh tonnes of onions, according to the minister.
“As an agro-based country, the main target of the government is to curb agro-product imports in the future,” Rashid said, adding that initiatives were under way to increase production while improving preservation facilities.
He said measures had also been taken to gradually reduce the country’s import dependence on jute seed, onion seed and ginger.
Elaborating on plans to increase food production through technological innovation, Rashid said cultivation of a new rice variety, BRRI-118, would begin next year.
The variety can be planted 10 to 15 days earlier than conventional rice varieties in the haor region, he said.
The earlier planting period is expected to help protect crops from flash floods, which frequently threaten the region’s rice harvest.
To reduce high agricultural production costs, the government is planning to bring all irrigation pumps under solar power, the minister said.
He identified diesel-powered irrigation pumps as a major factor driving up crop production costs.
“Agriculture Secretary M Selim Khan was present at the programme.