Fertiliser dealership no longer be issued based on political links: Adviser
The adviser said that rice production in the last season surpassed the government’s target by 1.5 lakh tonnes
Agriculture Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has said fertiliser dealership licenses will no longer be issued based on political affiliations, marking a shift towards transparency in the agriculture sector.
"Only qualified individuals will be considered for fertiliser licenses," he told reporters during a press briefing at the agriculture ministry yesterday (20 July).
The adviser also warned that stern action will be taken against those involved in corruption in the agriculture sector.
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He said that under the current administration, transparency and accountability in fertiliser procurement processes have improved significantly.
Highlighting recent achievements, the adviser said that rice production in the last season surpassed the government's target by 1.5 lakh tonnes.
He assured that there is currently no risk of a food crisis in the country.
To enhance post-harvest preservation, the government has established 100 mini cold storages for leafy vegetables and is building modern storage facilities for onions. Air flow machines are also being distributed to farmers.
This year, production of leafy vegetables, onions, and potatoes has been satisfactory. However, due to an oversupply of potatoes, prices have dropped, prompting the government to include potatoes in the Open Market Sale (OMS) programme to stabilise prices.
Addressing recent climate-related challenges, the adviser said crop production in five districts was severely impacted by floods. Despite earlier difficulties in covering fertiliser costs, the issue has now been resolved. The country currently has sufficient fertiliser stock to last until November.
To ensure continued affordability, a fresh agreement has been signed with Malaysia for fertiliser imports. "There is currently no shortage of fertilisers," he confirmed.
In flood-affected areas like Cumilla, Chandpur, Brahmanbaria, Cox's Bazar, Noakhali, and Feni, the government is distributing vegetable seeds as part of its recovery support.
Additionally, around 3.3 lakh saplings of various species were distributed by the Ministry of Agriculture in the last fiscal year to promote sustainable farming.
Agriculture Secretary Dr Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian was also present.
